Discoveries From The Domvs Romana: Conference And Guided Tours

Press Release│ 16 June 2025

Heritage Malta invites the public to explore the latest discoveries from the ongoing Melite Civitas Romana project at the Domvs Romana in Rabat. A public conference will be held on Saturday 21st June, and guided tours with reduced admission rates follow on Tuesday 24th June.

The site recently welcomed the Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Matt Skelly, who was given a guided tour by the project directors and gained first-hand insight into the project’s progress.

Now in its fourth excavation season, the Melite Civitas Romana project is a major international research initiative led by Heritage Malta in collaboration with the University of South Florida’s Institute for Digital Exploration and Intercontinental Archaeology. The Domvs was first discovered in 1881 by Antonio Caruana and was excavated between 1920 and 1924 by Themistocles Zammit. The current project aims to re-examine the Domvs Romana using state-of-the-art archaeological technologies.

Through digital mapping, geophysical surveys and stratigraphic excavation, researchers are uncovering new information about both the Domvs Romana and the wider Roman town of Melite.

The conference on 21st June will be held at St Paul’s Catacombs, presenting findings from the 2024 excavation season, with talks by the project’s directors and contributors, followed by a Q&A session. Pre-booking here https://heritagemalta.mt/store/e1750/  or at any Heritage Malta museum or site is required due to limited seating. On Tuesday 24th June, the Domvs Romana will offer five guided tours between 8:00am and 10:30am, every 30 minutes (last tour at 10:00am). Visitors can observe archaeologists at work and gain insight into the site’s ongoing research. Pre-booking is essential. Reduced admission rates apply on the day, with free entry for Heritage Malta members, children under 11, and Heritage Malta passport holders. Further details and tickets for the tours can be accessed here: https://heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/melite-civitas-romana-project-excavation-tour/