Dating back to the early 19^th century, the villa took its name from the family name of the earliest known owner of the property, Agostino Portelli, a distinguished businessman and statesman from Valletta. Designed to embrace both luxury and tranquillity, Villa Portelli was originally conceived as a countryside escape from the frenetic urban life of the Grand Harbour. The estate expanded over time, incorporating neighbouring plots and flourishing gardens that epitomised the Italianate style, with symmetrical pathways weaving through lush citrus orchards, flowering terraces, and neoclassical urns and statues. At its peak, the property boasted over 250 trees. Unfortunately, the villa’s gardens were diminished over the years, giving way to road and infrastructural works to facilitate better access to other parts of Kalkara. Nonetheless, various original features still grace the grounds today.

Beyond its verdant splendour, the villa’s architecture is a harmonious blend of Maltese baroque and British colonial influences. Elegant colonnades frame its façade, while expansive verandas offer breathtaking panoramic views of the harbour’s shimmering waters. Internally, high-vaulted ceilings and grand rooms once adorned with frescoes provided an opulent setting for social gatherings and diplomatic meetings. Owing to its proximity to military establishments such as Fort Ricasoli, Bighi Hospital, and the dockyard, Villa Portelli was often rented out to high status members of the services.

The early 20th century ushered in a new chapter for Villa Portelli, when it was requisitioned by the British Admiralty in 1902. It became the residence of high-ranking naval and dockyard officials, including the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, and was adjusted to suit the needs of its occupants along the way. Its halls bore witness to wartime strategy sessions, grand soirees and moments of respite for officers navigating the perils of global conflict.

Following the departure of British forces in 1979, Villa Portelli was handed over to the Maltese government, standing today as a silent yet majestic sentinel of Malta’s multifaceted history.

A visit to the villa today offers a uniquely evocative journey through time, aided by curated interpretation and audio-visuals along its halls and spaces. Its sun-dappled gardens, regenerated in collaboration with Project Green, provide a welcome breath of fresh air and an opportunity to ground oneself in the moment whilst appreciating the passage of time.

Villa Portelli opens every Sunday, from 7:30 AM till 4 PM.

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Various exploratory projects were conducted on this deep-water multi-period site with mixed results. In 1993, a submarine survey revealed a dense scatter of amphorae located in depths varying between 108 and 112 metres. In 2007, the extent of this archaeological deposit was mapped and recorded, revealing a rectangular zone of high archaeological value consisting of varying densities of archaeological material spread over a total area of 67,000m². Besides the visible material, the presence of archaeological remains buried in the sediment is highly likely, owing to the continuous sediment deposition from the Xlendi ria. The seabed consists of a silty sand punctuated by a series of rocky outcrops that vary in size and around which archaeological objects have accumulated.  These consist mostly of amphorae but also include urns, bowls, and other ceramic objects. The quantity of homogenous material suggests the presence of at least one shipwreck, datable to the third century BC. In 2021, Heritage Malta launched an ambitious project to record the site in high-resolution to better understand the morphology of this unique underwater archaeological site. The site was confirmed an Archaeological Zone at Sea in 2020, and in 2022 it was declared as the world’s first deep-water archaeological part. The Xlendi Underwater Archaeological park opens for divers in the summer of 2023. The park is sponsored by the MIA Foundation

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For millennia, Malta’s strategic location at the centre of the Mediterranean, together with her excellent natural harbour, saw her play a leading role in the military struggle for supremacy in the region. This historical process was accompanied by a nearly continuous investment in the fortifications, particularly from 1530 onwards, when it was transformed into a frontline bulwark of Christianity by the Knights of St John, and from 1800 as Britain’s naval base. 

The Fortifications Interpretation Centre focuses exclusively on explaining the history and significance of Malta’s military architectural heritage, from prehistory to the British period. It does so through large scale models, graphic information panels, and various interactive media kiosks. The centre also draws attention to the fact that of all weapons of war, fortifications were perhaps the only ones that were intended to protect life rather than destroy it. Military architecture is not warlike and provocative, its very essence was rather peaceful coexistence. It was designed to maintain authority, not to usurp; it was the art of defence, not attack. 

Hosted in a large sixteenth century warehouse, the centre therefore draws attention to the creative rather than the destructive aspects of human ingenuity by seeking to instil a feeling and appreciation for architecture, engineering and art, and the manner in which these three elements were brought together to fashion the formidable fortifications of Malta.

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Designed as a single-seat short-range, high-performance interceptor by R. J. Mitchell at Supermarine Aviation Works in 1936, the Spitfire was produced in greater numbers than any other British aircraft, with over 20,000 units built. The aircraft incorporated all the most advanced features – variable pitch propeller, all-metal semi-monocoque construction, retractable undercarriage, and enclosed cockpit; however, it achieved uniqueness through its elliptical wing, which solved the problem of housing eight machine guns and a retracted undercarriage, while still providing enough strength to withstand the stress of high-speed manoeuvres.

On 30 June 1943, the first Spitfires, tasked with providing coverage of the invasion fleet during Operation Husky, landed on the newly constructed aerodrome site at Xewkija/Ta Lambert in Gozo. This marked the first occasion where an aircraft safely landed on the island. On that same day, a Spitfire from the 308th fighter squadron of the 31st Group and Twelfth Air Force, having departed from Korba, Tunisia, was en route to Pantelleria and Gozo. The aircraft was last contacted by radio, and a missing aircraft report lists it as having been lost as a result of crashing into the sea. The pilot remains missing.

The wreck site of the Spitfire was discovered during a side-scan sonar survey in April 2021. The aircraft is located upright on a sandy seabed at a depth of 72 metres.

Virtual tour – https://underwatermalta.org/discover/spitfire/

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With an overall length of 58m, a beam of 4.90m and a draught of 4.62m, HMS Urge was laid down on 30 October 1939 and commissioned on 12 December 1940, under the command of Lieutenant EP Tomkinson as commanding officer.

For most of its service, HMS Urge operated in the Mediterranean, forming part of the 10th Submarine Flotilla based in Malta. The 630-tonne submarine had a top speed of 11 knots at the surface and 10 knots while submerged.

Near the Straits of Messina, on 14 December 1941, HMS Urge made history when it attacked the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto the largest enemy battleship to be torpedoed at sea by the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Four months later, on 1 April 1942, HMS Urge torpedoed and sank the Italian cruiser Giovanni dell Bande Nere, losing over half of its crew. The wreck of the Italian cruiser was only first discovered in 2019, resting at a depth of 1,400 metres. Retribution came swiftly. Heavy aerial bombardment of the Grand Harbour necessitated the submarine’s evacuation to Alexandria.

However, just beyond the harbour, two minefields, one Italian and one German, lay in wait, and after leaving the safety of the port on 27 April 1942, HMS Urge was not heard from again. The fate of its 32-member crew and 12 passengers, including war correspondent Bernard Gray would remain an enigma until 2019, when the wreck site of the HMS Urge was discovered during a remote sensing survey conducted off the coast of Valletta, Malta.

On 27^th April 2022, Heritage Malta and the relatives of those who lost their lives on HMS Urge participated in the ceremonial unveiling of a commemorative monument. The ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency The President of Malta, Dr George Vella.

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Ta’ Mitina catacomb complex is made up of three hypogea located in the southern periphery of Mqabba. These were first documented by A.A. Caruana whose book ‘Report on the Phoenician and Roman Antiquities in the group of islands of Malta’ (1888) remains a cornerstone in Maltese archaeology. Indeed, this was one of his first experiences in a catacomb when, in 1860, he climbed down the well shaft through which the complex was accessed at the time, aaccompanied by Capt. Strickland R.N.

The three hypogea were originally separate burial complexes, each with an independent staircase facing SSW, presumably the location of an ancient road. The three hypogea were only joined together in modern history so that they could be used as a well. The same well was explored by Caruana and Strickland.

This complex also exhibits unique features in the catacomb’s structure. The central hypogeum is best known for its extremely well-preserved triclinium, a rock-cut dining-setup used for commemorative meals, and the two rows of pyramidal lamp-holes facing it. The two flanking hypogea are, on the other hand, best known for the exquisite decoration with which some of the window tombs are adorned.

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The cave was discovered in 1933 and cleared out immediately. It has two openings – a narrow access to the south and a round hole, possibly the result of a ceiling collapse.

Several megaliths scattered on the rocky plateau above the cave might have been the remains of a temple structure. Only ceramic fragments from the Ġgantija phase were found (c.3800 – 2000BC) and these bore abundant traces of red ochre.

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The rock is about four metres in length and is partially propped up from one end by smaller stones. It may have originally formed part of a dolmen dating to the Bronze Age period, however this has never been supported by an archaeological investigation.

But who was Sansuna, you might wonder, bearing in mind that Sansuna in Maltese is the female version of Sansun – namely Samson, the Biblical figure known for his tremendous physical strength.

The rock has been the subject of various imaginary and folkloristic tales, most notably those recorded by the Jesuit historian Fr Manuel Magri. In his publication ‘Ħrejjef Missijietna’ (Tales of Our Forefathers), Sansuna features as a strong giantess who inhabited Gozo in a long-forgotten past and whose primary occupation was to carry megaliths across the island.

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Unlike the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum which was hewn in live Globigerina rock, the Xagħra Circe revealed the use of a concentration of natural caves that were modified to accomodate entire generations of burials.

Owing to the friable nature of the rock in the area, the roofs of the caverns suffered a major collapse, reducing the entire site to the large hollow cavity visible today.

The site was excavated between 1987 and 1994 by an Anglo-Maltese team of archaeologists. The rich repertoire of finds discovered at the Xagħra Circle is what makes it a truly exceptional site.

Besides a large concentration of human remains belonging to successive generations of burials, archaeologists also discovered a vast quantity of grave goods. These consisted of ceramics, tools, ornaments and miniature statuettes, many of which provide different interpretations of the human form. A few individual examples from the latter group have garnered worldwide attention for their unparalleled workmanship and now rank high amongst the most accomplished artistic works in European prehistory.

*Attention: Access to the Xagħra Circle and the precincts of the site features uneven terrain that is highly hazardous to individuals with mobility issues. Children under the age of 8 must be closely supervised by a guardian and will only be allowed access up to the main entry point of the site. Safety instructions by supervising personnel must be adhered to at all times.

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With the intervention of the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean, the Axis forces resolved to eliminate and neutralise Malta by starving its people and attacking military installations and British convoys transporting cargo to the island. This became known as the Second Siege of Malta, which eventually ended in victory for the Allies in September 1943. Throughout the campaign, many ships and aircraft on both sides were sunk or shot down and destroyed. Much of this has been preserved in the underwater archaeological record.

One such aircraft was a Junkers Ju88, discovered in 2009 outside of Salina Bay and resting at a depth of 55m. The Luftwaffe launched wave after wave of air raids using aircraft such as the Messerschmitt BF109E/F fighter, the Junkers Ju87 Stuka dive bomber and the Junkers Ju88 bomber. During the preparation for the invasion of Sicily, known as Operation’ Husky‘, the Allies had built up their own indomitable defence system. Malta was now the base for 35½ squadrons consisting of over 600 modern fighters and bombers.

The Junkers Ju88 wreckage is well-preserved, with a tail broken off that lies a small distance from the main site. The cockpit still retains its forward-looking machine gun. The wreck probably ended up in the sea after being hit by flak over its target or shot down during a dogfight.

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