Gran Castello Historic House – Special opening

On Sunday 8th October, Heritage Malta is inviting you to set foot into a time warp hurling you three centuries back by visiting the Gran Castello Historic House, open for free with guided tours, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary since its opening as a Folklore Museum.

The cluster of houses is a residential complex the origins of which go back to the late 15th century. As it changed hands over the years, it underwent structural additions and modifications resulting in the edifice we see today. During the 1930s, restoration works were carried out on the initiative of the then British governor of Malta, Sir Harry Luke. Since then, it served as a rearing place for livestock and poultry until it was secured by the Maltese government who saw to its preservation and eventual rehabilitation as a Folklore Museum in 1983.

To highlight its residential and urban character, this historic house has been lately branded under a new concept that reflects its true nature: a historic residence for well-to-do Gozitan families in the Citadel during the 18th century as the period in focus. Consequently, it was renamed ‘Gran Castello Historic House’. This transformation was also in line with the recommendations of the Cittadella Master Plan presented in 2010.

On Sunday 8th October, the historic house will greet visitors with activities ranging from live demonstrations of traditional trades related to weaving and lace making, to traditional games for children. Guided tours will be offered in English and Maltese at 11:00am and 2:30pm respectively, on first come first served basis (no prebooking required). Entrance to the historic house will be free of charge and no pre-booking is required. The museum will be open between 9:00am and 5:00pm, with last admissions at 16.30pm.

This event forms part of Heritage Malta’s programme for this year’s European Heritage Days.