Baroque Malta: A Guide to the Island's Golden Age of Architecture and Music
Every January, Malta showcases its Baroque heritage through the Valletta Baroque Festival, which is now celebrating its tenth anniversary. This event features performances at notable locations such as St. John's Co-Cathedral, Teatru Manoel, Gran Salon, and Auberge de Provence. Artistic director Kenneth Zammit Tabona leads the festival, drawing classical music fans from around the world with a diverse lineup that includes everything from Bach to modern interpretations of Vivaldi. The festival thrives amidst Malta's Baroque architecture, which dates back to the 17th century under the Order of St. John, with significant structures like the Wignacourt Aqueduct (1612-1615), Church of the Jesuits (1635), St. Paul's Cathedral (1696-1705), and Teatru Manoel (1732). Gafà also constructed the Cathedral of the Assumption (1697-1711) in Gozo.
Key facts
- Valletta Baroque Festival runs every January for ten years.
- Festival artistic director is Kenneth Zammit Tabona.
- Baroque architecture in Malta began with Bontadino de Bontadini's Wignacourt Aqueduct (1612-1615).
- Lorenzo Gafà rebuilt St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina (1696-1705) after the 1693 Sicily earthquake.
- Auberge de Castille, designed by Andrea Belli, now houses the Prime Minister's office.
- Teatru Manoel opened in 1732.
- Mdina's Baroque urban renewal was led by Charles François de Mondion under Grand Master António Manoel from 1722.
- Gozo's Cathedral of the Assumption (1697-1711) has a painted trompe l'oeil dome.
Entities
Artists
- Kenneth Zammit Tabona
- Girolamo Cassar
- Bontadino de Bontadini
- Francesco Buonamici
- Lorenzo Gafà
- Mattia Preti
- Charles François de Mondion
- Andrea Belli
- António Manoel
Institutions
- Valletta Baroque Festival
- Order of St. John
- Auberge de Provence
- Gran Salon
- St. John's Co-Cathedral
- Teatru Manoel
- Church of the Jesuits
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Auberge de Castille
- Palazzo Vilhena
- Corte Capitanale
- Cathedral of the Assumption
- Basilica of St. George
- Museum of the Cathedral
- Palace of the Inquisitor
- Museums of Malta
- Artribune
Locations
- Malta
- Valletta
- Mdina
- Birgu
- Victoria
- Gozo
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Sicily
- Auberge de Provence
- Gran Salon
- St. John's Co-Cathedral
- Teatru Manoel
- Auberge de Castille
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Church of St. Lawrence
- Palace of the Inquisitor
- Cathedral of the Assumption
- Basilica of St. George
- Church of Santa Venera
- Porta Principale
- Porta dei Greci
- Torre dello Standardo
- Palazzo Vilhena
- Corte Capitanale
- Wignacourt Aqueduct