Through cross-border collaboration, job-shadowing, and hands-on technical training, DIGISCAN enabled digitisation specialists from Heritage Malta and CUT to exchange expertise, refine workflows, and advance research in 3D documentation techniques. The project unfolded in multiple phases, beginning with an initial knowledge-exchange programme in Malta, during which the Cypriot team collaborated on the digitisation of the Tas-Silg Archaeological Complex, one of Malta’s most historically significant multi-period sites. This was followed by a reciprocal visit to Cyprus, where participants attended the prestigious EuroMed 2024 Conference and undertook a large-scale 3D scanning project at the Panagia Aimatousa Church, a site of rich historical and architectural value. 

DIGISCAN focused on more than just the capture of high-resolution 3D models; it addressed the entire ecosystem of digital preservation, including metadata and paradata documentation, collection management strategies, and long-term archiving solutions. By comparing methodologies between institutions, the project fostered a critical evaluation of best practices, leading to tangible improvements in workflow efficiency, data accuracy, and interoperability between digital heritage platforms. 

Beyond its technical objectives, DIGISCAN played a crucial role in engaging international cooperation in heritage preservation, reinforcing Heritage Malta’s position as a key player in European cultural heritage digitisation efforts. By integrating the latest technological advancements with traditional conservation expertise, DIGISCAN aligns with Heritage Malta’s broader vision of ensuring that Malta’s cultural heritage remains accessible, accurately documented, and preserved for future generations.  

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This restoration forms part of the larger Grand Master’s Palace restoration project – Heritage Malta’s most ambitious conservation effort to date, which encompasses not only architectural restoration but also the preservation of priceless artefacts such as the Grand Master’s carriage, reinforcing the Palace’s role as a national symbol of Maltese identity.

The carriage, a luxury French-manufactured coach from the 1780s adorned with green velvet interiors, holds a unique place in Maltese history. Although used by at least four Grand Masters, the carriage is most closely associated with the last Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Ferdinand von Hompesch. A popular story recounts that the Grand Master had deployed it to transport Napoleon Bonaparte, but the latter refused to use it.

Originally gilded, the carriage has undergone various modifications over the centuries. Notable amongst these was the addition of four oval images with emblems of the French Revolution, during the island’s brief French occupation. One of these depictions, featuring an allegory of La Republique, holding a staff topped with the Phrygian Cap, was revealed in past interventions. The restoration will address these changes, ensuring the preservation of the layered history of this magnificent artefact, previously exhibited in the Palace Armoury which was originally on the Piano Nobile and then relocated to the ground halls – the former Palace stables. 

Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed his excitement about the project. “The restoration of the Grand Master’s carriage is a vital part of our ongoing commitment to safeguard Malta’s cultural and historical heritage. With Eden Leisure Foundation’s generous support, we can return this beautiful relic to its former glory and ensure its legacy for future generations.”

Anthony Spagnol, Heritage Malta’s Senior Conservator, described how the conservation of the carriage goes beyond the preservation of its materials, which range from wood and iron to fabric and leather, and also seeks to preserve its layered narrative. He elaborated on how the conservation team takes great care to conserve the carriage’s history and allow the artefact’s journey to be appreciated. 

Kate De Cesare, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Eden Leisure Foundation, mentioned that heritage is one of the three main pillars of the Foundation, which was formed very recently to carry forward the Community Social Responsibility intentions of the Eden Leisure Group and to make a lasting commitment to it. She expressed her delight as to how perfectly this project fits in the foundation’s raison d’être and how honoured she and her team are to be part of it.

The Grand Master’s carriage will eventually be displayed as a centrepiece in the newly restored Grand Master’s Palace, inspiring and educating for years to come.

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The project aims to collect anecdotes and experiences of the Hypogeum from before the 1980s, highlighting the site’s influence on visitors and residents. Individuals who have related photographs are encouraged to participate as well. With the owner’s approval, Heritage Malta will make copies of any photographs shared, for inclusion in its archival collection. Whether you visited the site decades ago, lived nearby, or have family ties with the area, your stories are invaluable. Your input is worth gold!

The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a unique underground burial complex dating back to between 4000 and 1500 BC. This Neolithic wonder, carved from living rock, showcases the remarkable craftsmanship of Malta’s ancient inhabitants. Discovered accidentally in 1902, the Hypogeum was one of the first sites in Malta to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It stands as a testament to the island’s rich prehistoric heritage.

Anyone with memories or information about the Hypogeum can contact Heritage Malta by calling 23954353 or 21691595 during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm) or by emailing info@heritagemalta.org. There is no deadline for submissions, and participants can choose to be interviewed or submit their stories in writing.

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Heritage Malta has joined forces with a number European partners in a new EU-funded project entitled ‘IMPULSE — IMmersive digitisation: uPcycling cULtural heritage towards new reviving StratEgies’, with the aim of taking the digitisation of our national heritage to the next level.

The project was launched on the 2^nd of February, and its core mission is to radiate waves of transformation in how we engage and interact with our cultural heritage, breathing life into timeless stories waiting to be told anew.

In an era where the physical world intertwines with its own virtual-other, digital technologies provide us with powerful tools to shape stories of sustainable futures out of the multifaceted heritage our past is made of. By entering the Metaverse, IMPULSE will support the upcycling of already existing digitised cultural heritage content in immersive contexts, inviting collective, embodied, and engaging interactions with diverse perspectives and unsung narratives. 

This project aligns perfectly with Heritage Malta’s chief mission of preserving our shared heritage for posterity and making it accessible for everyone to experience and enjoy, for which it often partners up with other entities in related fields, both locally and overseas. 

Its Digitisation Unit’s excellent portfolio in research, education, and exhibition design is key in the agency’s participation in IMPULSE, applying its expertise with 3D digitisation technologies and their use in AR, VR and XR environments. 

The project will be completed in 2027.

IMPULSE is a HORIZON EUROPE project, coordinated by Uniwersytet Jagiellonski — Poland, and developed in collaboration with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven — Belgium, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna — Italy, Universita Ta Malta — Malta, Heritage Malta, Filmuniversitat Babelsberg Konrad Wolf — Germany, Ethniko Kai Kapodistriako Panepistimio Athinon — Greece, Magna Zmien Foundation — Malta, Associazione Clust-ER Industrie Culturali e Creative — Italy, K8 Institut Fuer Strategische Aesthetik GGMBH — Germany, Explodedview sp. z o.o. — Poland

Heritage Malta tmexxi l-istorja fil-ġejjieni

Heritage Malta ngħaqdet ma’ numru ta’ msieħba Ewropej fi proġett ġdid iffinanzjat mill-UE intitolat ‘IMPULSE – IMmersive digitisation: uPcycling cULtural heritage towards new reviving StratEgies’, bil-mira li tieħu d-diġitizzazzjoni tal-wirt nazzjonali tagħna fil-livell li jmiss.

Il-proġett tnieda fit-2 ta’ Frar, u l-missjoni ewlenija tiegħu hija li jiġġenera mewġ ta’ tiġdid fil-mod kif nirrelataw u ninteraġixxu mal-wirt kulturali tagħna, u b’hekk jagħti ħajja ġdida lil stejjer li jitraxxendu s-sekli li qed jistennew li jingħadu mill-ġdid.

Fi żmien fejn id-dinja fiżika hija minsuġa b’mod tant b’saħħtu mal-verżoni virtwali tagħha, it-teknoloġiji diġitali jipprovdulna għodod b’saħħithom biex insawwru stejjer ta’ ġejjieni sostenibbli mill-wirt multidimensjonali li l-passat tagħna huwa mgħoni bihom. Billi jidħol fil-Metaverse, l-IMPULSE se jgħin biex wirt kulturali diġà diġitizzat ikun jista’ jintuża f’kuntesti immersivi, li jistiednu interazzjonijiet kollettivi, inkorporati u kaptivanti b’ perspettivi diversi u narrattivi oriġinali. 

Dan il-proġett jallinja perfettament mal-missjoni ewlenija ta’ Heritage Malta li tippreserva l-wirt komuni tagħna għall-posterità u tagħmlu aċċessibbli għal kulħadd biex jesperjenza u jgawdi, li għaliha spiss tissieħeb ma’ entitajiet oħra f’oqsma relatati, kemm lokalment kif ukoll barra minn Malta. 

Il-portafoll eċċellenti tat-Taqsima tad-Diġitizzazzjoni fir-riċerka, l-edukazzjoni u d-disinn tal-wirjiet huwa kruċjali fil-parteċipazzjoni tal-aġenzija fl-IMPULSE, bl-applikazzjoni tal-għarfien espert tagħha f’teknoloġiji ta’ diġitizzazzjoni 3D u l-użu tagħhom f’ambjenti AR, VR u XR. 

Il-proġett se jitlesta fl-2027.

IMPULSE huwa proġett tal-HORIZON EUROPE, immexxi minn Uniwersytet Jagiellonski – Polonja, u żviluppat b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – Il-Belġju, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna – l-Italja, Università ta’ Malta – Malta, Heritage Malta, Filmuniversitat Babelsberg Konrad Wolf – Il-Ġermanja, Ethniko Kai Kapodistriako Panepistimio Athinon – Il-Greċja, Il-Fondazzjoni Magna Żmien – Malta, Associazione Clust-ER Industrie Culturali e Creative – L-Italja, K8 Institut Fuer Strategische Aesthetik GGMBH — Il-Ġermanja, Explodedview sp. z o.o. — Il-Polonja.

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ENIGMA’s overarching goal is to establish a comprehensive framework that addresses the multifaceted challenges associated with cultural property trafficking. One of its key objectives is to foster collaboration by creating a network of communication and cooperation with competent authorities, both domestic and foreign. This collaborative effort is crucial for effectively combating the looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property.

By leveraging the expertise of its diverse team, the ENIGMA Project seeks to develop holistic solutions that not only mitigate the immediate threats posed by illicit trafficking but also contribute to the long-term preservation and repatriation of cultural heritage. With a timeline spanning three years, the project represents a sustained commitment to tackling this pressing issue through a combination of academic insight, scientific innovation, and collaboration with authorities at various levels.

Work Packages

ENIGMA’s detailed work plan is been presented, broken down into work packages (WPs) which follow the logical phases of the implementation of the project, and include consortium management and assessment of progress and results.

• WP1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION
• WP2. CONCEPTUALIZATION AND SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
• WP3. TECHNOLOGIES OF DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING OF CULTURAL GOODS
• WP4 TECHNOLOGIES FOR DECISION-SUPPORT AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
• WP5 INTEGRATION & TESTING
• WP6 PILOT CASES IMPLEMENTATION, TOOLS DEMONSTRATION AND VALIDATION
• WP7 COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION & EXPLOITATION

Institutions participating in the project:

AUTH – Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
KIKLO, Greece
Erastosthenes, Greece
Heritage Malta, Malta
Cellock
University of Turku, Finland
Royal Museums of Art and History, Belgium
Hellenic Police Greece
Kemea, Greece
Noesis Technologies
Any Solution, Spain
Miralab – University of Geneva

Status in the project: Participant

Project coordinator: Associate Professor Charalampos Georgiadis, AUTH

GA. No. 101094237  

Project type: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Period of realization: 01/01/2023-2026 (36 months)

Website: Home – ENIGMA EU
Facebook: Enigma EUProject
Twitter: ENIGMA EUProject (@EnigmaEuproject) on X
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enigma-euproject-8a0b6025b/

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It is time to act, and we are on the forefront!

Heritage Malta recognizes the crucial role museums and heritage sites can have in amplifying awareness and promoting dialogue around climate action. 

Climate change is moving fast, and so must we. Rising sea levels, surging world temperatures and increasingly erratic weather conditions are all a major threat to cultural heritage. A holistic framework that engages scientists, conservators, citizens, creative industries and decision makers to develop and act on new, sustainable strategies to ensure a future for our heritage is urgently needed.

As the guardian of over 8,000 years of history, Heritage Malta is constantly collaborating with other entities to ensure that its mission of preserving our shared heritage for posterity, and making it accessible for everyone to experience and enjoy, is fulfilled.

Recently the agency embarked on an intriguing project with Horizon Europe, the European Union’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion, in which its cutting-edge Digitisation Unit technologies will be applied to the safeguarding of overseas heritage as well.

For the first time, the future of stećci – monumental medieval tombstones scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, which form part of the  UNESCO World Heritage list – and similar limestone monuments will be assessed under two high-resolution climate scenarios in three periods: 2021-2040, 2041-2060 and 2081-2100. In situ condition assessment supported by comprehensive scientific analyses will be followed by remedial conservation on selected sites to develop best practice and efficient monitoring and conservation guidelines.

Digitisation methodologies will also be explored, in which Heritage Malta’s Digitisation Unit will be applying its expertise in 3D imaging and modelling technologies. Basic and high-end techniques will be mutually compared in order to simplify and amplify the digital recording of cultural heritage in Europe. 

Furthermore, the project aims to hone the potential of necropoles to offer new opportunities and resources for socio-economic and creative entrepreneurship developments of local communities, and create strategies and models for the valorization of cultural heritage which can be implemented across Europe.

EU Project number: 101094822

Institutions participating in the project:

• University of Sarajevo, B&H;
• Heritage Malta, Malta;
• Univerzitet Donja Gorica Podgorica, Montenegro;
• Universitaet fur angewandte Kunst Wien, Austria;
• Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Germany;
• Zentrum für soziale Innovation GmbH Wien, Austria;
• Sveuciliste u Splitu, Umjetnicka akademija, Croatia;
• Faculty of Sciences University of Novi Sad, Serbia;
• Institut Mines-Telecom, France

Status in the project: Participant

Project coordinator: Nusret Drešković UNSA (UNSA)

Project manager: Saida Ibragić (UNSA)

Project call: HORIZON-CL2-2022-HERITAGE-01

Project type: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Period of realization: 2023-2027 (September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2027)

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The project is part of a larger investment by the government of Malta and Heritage Malta in the Malta Maritime Museum with two million of funding provided by EEA and Norway Grants. Comprising a significant restoration and redesign of the museum site in Birgu waterfront and a large scale digitisation programme headed by the Digitisation Department, this project will see the Malta Maritime Museum and Heritage Malta’s digital activities become industry leading examples of 21st century museum practice.

The EEA and Norway Grants project consists of two parts:

• Civil Works, which is seeing the existing building undergoing extensive rehabilitation and restoration, and
• a Digitisation component, which aims to create an accessible database of rich information, knowledge and digital media of Malta’s cultural heritage assets at the Malta Maritime Museum.

Half of the EEA Norway Grant funds are being allocated towards civil works which are being carried out to repair structural damage and rehabilitate unused areas of the museum in order to create further spaces accessible to the public. The total area of visitors’ facilities, museum and exhibition space at the Malta Maritime Museum will increase to 1,629 sq.m. from the current 1,086 sq.m. The project will take measures to present the museum’s collections in innovative ways and stabilise all of the museum areas, with priority given to works in the silo and central halls. Significant works will be undertaken on the roof and the rear façade, and a new foyer and reception area will be created at ground floor level. The permanent display areas on the first floor will be expanded, as will space for the reserve collection.

The remaining half of the grant is being invested in digitising 2600 artefacts within the Malta Maritime Museum.

This is a major first for Heritage Malta and part of a long term project to digitise hundreds of thousands of items in the national collection, ranging from paintings to porcelain, archaeological artefacts, arms and armour, natural history specimens, clothing, and intangible cultural heritage assets. High quality equipment is being used to capture still images, 3D laser scans, photogrammetry and videography.
The project also finances the creation of a Collections Management System to act as a fetched accessible database of rich information, knowledge and various forms of digital media of Malta’s cultural heritage assets, focusing on the Maritime Museum collection.

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The ongoing works at the Grand Master’s Palace are part of the largest project ever undertaken by Heritage Malta, estimated to cost around € 28 million in total. The first phase of the project is being co-financed by the European Union as part of the European Regional Development Fund for the sum of € 10 million, while the next phase, which will cost around € 18 million, will be funded by the Maltese Government. The first phase is expected to be completed by October 2022, while the entire project is expected to be completed by the year 2025.

The first phase of this project shall see the reinstatement of the Armoury in its original location – the former Parliament Chamber; the restoration of the artworks in the corridors and Uccelliera of the Piano Nobile; and a visitor centre in the rehabilitated former Casa del Monte and Orangerie. Phase two involves the restoration of the state rooms and the office of the Prime Minister. Phase three will see the Neptune Courtyard and ground floor restored to its original purpose, whilst the final phase ends with the complete rehabilitation of the basement.

The Grand Master’s Palace is the most visited site in Heritage Malta’s portfolio, welcoming around 200,000 visitors each year.

Previously only the armoury (at ground floor) and five staterooms at the Piano Nobile level together with the main staircase, were open to the public. However, now the entire project aims to attract a projected increased audience of 300,000 annual visitors and will grant access to over eighty-five percent of the building footprint.

With the regeneration of the Grand Master’s Palace, visitors will be able to experience the new interpretation of the centre of power in Malta for 500 years as a historic house based on the blueprint of a baroque palace.

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The building, which was built in the mid-18th century and is located in Pietá, was scheduled at Grade 2 by the Planning Authority due to its architectural, cultural and historical value.

Villa Guardamangia had a special place in the heart of her majesty the late Queen of England. The villa served as the residence of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) from 1949 to 1951 when her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was stationed in Malta as an officer of the Royal Navy – captain of HMS Magpie which was moored at Senglea. Referred to fondly by the Queen as ‘home’, Villa Guardamangia is the only property outside Great Britain in which the royal family has resided. The Villa has an area of around 1,500 square metres, and includes eighteen rooms, stables, a large garden, wells, a war-shelter/bunker and other facilities.

Villa Guardamangia requires major structural works in order to be able to host a display and accommodate visitors.

The first phase included emergency interventions to consolidate the stability of two sections of the façade over Guardamangia Hill since they were in imminent danger of collapse. Preparations are now in hand to collate the required information for the actual restoration project to start, including an accurate architectural survey of all areas, a laser scan, testing of beams, and the installation of data loggers to provide important environment data to guide future decisions. Students from the University College of London will be assessing the building from a conservation point of view in 2022. In the meantime, a proposal for funding was drafted and a planning application has been submitted for the restoration of the fabric.

It is approximately estimated that the project will cost around €10 million

The first phase will focus on structural and restoration works, while the second will include the finishes and the crafting of an engaging visitor experience. The general plan is for the ground floor to host general visitor amenities and a display focusing on the relations between Malta and Britain through the ages in order to interpret the general context of why Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip came to Malta in 1949. On the other hand, the first floor will be historically reconstructed as it was when the royal couple resided in it in the mid-20th century. The focus of the display will be on the royal couple’s human experience of Malta.

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This function was retained for more than 350 years, until the early 1970s when the building housed the Libyan Cultural Centre and later the offices of the Attorney General until it was entrusted into the hands of Heritage Malta.
During British rule, hundreds of pictures were painted on the Main Guard walls, mostly in the Officers’ Mess, where the guards ate and rested in between shifts. Painting was one of these soldiers’ pastimes, and in fact, there are over 300 pictures, some of which were recently discovered during conservation and restoration works.

The main objective behind the Main Guard Project is twofold. It will serve as an interpretation centre for all Heritage Malta sites in the capital city and beyond, and secondly it will depict a wider perspective of the function of this building through the years, with particular emphasis on the mural paintings at first floor level.

Therefore, the ground floor, will present an immersive digital experience of the islands millennial history via Heritage Malta’s sites and museums in Valletta and the rest of Malta. This infrastructure can then be utilised by artists for their digital arts installations. The digital realm will also be implemented at first floor level, where the experience shall present contextual interpretation of the history and function of the building, focusing on the wall paintings, which digital media aims to bring to life for visitors to enjoy.

The regeneration of the Main Guard fits perfectly within the framework of Heritage Malta’s strategic vision for Valletta, in particular the direct link as the guard house of the Grandmasters Palace as well as capitalising on its proximity with the past and present hub of nightlife in the City.

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