An Opportunity to Visit Villa Portelli during an Open Weekend

Heritage Malta will open the doors of Villa Portelli to the public during an open weekend on the 14th and 15th of October, providing an opportunity for Kalkara residents, the Cottonera community and the general public to get a close glimpse at this impressive residence that was recently entrusted to the agency by the Government so that it may be restored and made accessible for public enjoyment.

Situated on four tumoli of land, Villa Portelli, in Kalkara, stands as a legacy to Malta’s historical narrative. A former residence to influential figures during the British period, the villa, once restored, is set to offer a multisensory experience inside its halls as well as a green space for relaxation through the splendid gardens surrounding it. Some of the villa’s rooms will be transformed into offices and spaces to be used by Heritage Malta and by the Kalkara Local Council.

The open weekend, from 10:00 till 17:00 on both days, is planned to be a family outing brimming with events and activities that offer both entertainment and education. Visitors may enjoy exciting virtual reality adventures, hosted by Heritage Malta’s cutting-edge Underwater Cultural Heritage and Digitisation Units. Wirt il-Kalkara and Heritage Malta representatives will be delivering talks on the history of Kalkara and Villa Portelli at specific times throughout the weekend.

Heritage Malta’s conservators will give the public an opportunity to witness the real-time conservation of artefacts. Lace-making sessions will surely grab people’s attention, and spectators will be invited to create their own lace under the guidance of a skilled artisan. Those who have personal fond memories of Villa Portelli, or grew up listening to parents or relatives recounting their own recollections of the villa, are being invited to share their recollections inside a Memory Room. The open weekend will also provide the facility of a one-stop shop for Senior and Student Heritage Malta Passports, Heritage Malta memberships and publications.

Heritage Malta’s Education and Outreach Department will keep children engrossed in several creative activities, two Kalkara band clubs will exhibit typical festa instruments and other items, while the Kalkara Regatta Club will have a Regatta boat and trophies on display. The villa’s gardens will provide a tranquil space for relaxation, and there will be food and drinks for sale. On Saturday there will be the Sea Cadets and representatives of Project Green with information stands and children’s activities. Mass will be celebrated at Villa Portelli on Sunday 15th at 10:00. Just a few days before the open weekend, Heritage Malta’s top management showed Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, around Villa Portelli. Dr Bonnici expressed his appreciation for Heritage Malta’s efforts to restore such sites to their rightful dignity and said that the Government is committed to continue with initiatives aimed at preserving, restoring, and rehabilitating historical sites on a regular basis.

Heritage Malta’s Chairman, Mario Cutajar, said that the patrimony entrusted to Heritage Malta, such as Villa Portelli, must be thoroughly assessed, interpreted and given a new lease of life to live with us today. This is what Heritage Malta means when stressing that our national cultural heritage is ‘part of us’. Our patrimony truly becomes part of us when we fuse it with the present to be able to better understand the society we live in, said Mr Cutajar while announcing that Villa Portelli will be one of the sites used for the maltabiennale.art 2024.

Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer, Noel Zammit, remarked that the open weekend at Villa Portelli attests yet again to the agency’s commitment towards making our national patrimony accessible to all. This event is just a foretaste of the many opportunities that Villa Portelli will offer the community once it has been restored to its former glory.

The Mayor of Kalkara, Wayne Aquilina, said that Villa Portelli is a prestigious building that he and the rest of the people who reside in Kalkara are very proud of. Expressing his satisfaction that the villa is now receiving the attention it deserves, the Mayor said that the open weekend will be an opportunity for Kalkara residents to enhance their appreciation of Villa Portelli, and for the general public to visit Kalkara and discover its identity and what it has to offer.

More information about the Villa Portelli Open Weekend may be found here: https://heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/villa-portelli-open-weekend/