For over a decade, the Planning Authority’s Heritage Planning Tours have celebrated Malta’s built and cultural legacy, taking the public beyond the façades of its towns and cities. Each guided tour offers an insight into how planning, conservation, and regeneration come together to safeguard Malta’s distinct character for future generations.

Over the years, hundreds of participants – from students and families to architecture enthusiasts and residents – have joined these tours to reconnect with their surroundings and heritage. More than just cultural excursions, the tours highlight how the Authority’s initiatives, from urban regeneration to grant schemes, enhance community life and improve the environment.

This year’s programme features two distinctive destinations, each offering a unique glimpse into Malta’s evolving story:

• Żejtun, the southern gem renowned for its noble heritage, olive groves, and centuries-old craftsmanship.
• Rabat (Victoria), Gozo, the island’s vibrant heart crowned by the timeless Cittadella.

Żejtun (Città Beland)

Participants will be introduced to a selection of notable landmarks that showcase Żejtun’s rich heritage and architectural character. While the tour will not include entry into these properties, information will be provided on their historical and cultural significance, including the summer residences of Grand Master Perellos and Archbishop Cagliares and Aedis Danielis Palace, an 18th-century noble residence blending classical design with local character. The tour also includes other sites that reflect Żejtun’s enduring charm and the Planning Authority’s ongoing preservation efforts.

Interested? The upcoming tour dates are: 14th December 2025, 25th January, 22nd February and 19 April 2026. For each of these dates, the meeting point is in front of the Żejtun Bus Terminal at 08:45 AM.

Rabat, Gozo (Victoria)

Across the Gozo Channel lies Rabat, officially Victoria, the cultural and social nucleus of the island. Its lively squares, narrow lanes, and bustling markets embody Mediterranean charm and community life.

At its centre, It-Tokk (Independence Square) buzzes with cafés, conversation, and local trade, surrounded by artisan workshops and traditional bakeries. Overlooking it all stands the Cittadella, a majestic, fortified complex that has guarded Gozo since the Bronze Age. Within its walls lie the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Old Prison, and museums that narrate the island’s story of resilience and renewal.

In this tour, participants will visit the Cittadella Interpretation Centre, where they will gain an overview of Gozo’s rich history and cultural heritage through a short documentary video about the historic site. The tour will also include a visit to the St George’s Basilica, renowned for its artistic splendour and spiritual significance at the heart of Victoria.

Upcoming tour dates are as follows: 30th November 2025 and 22nd March 2026. For both dates, the meeting point is in front of the Cittadella Gate, Victoria (Rabat) at 9 AM.

Through the Heritage Planning Tours, the Planning Authority fosters a deeper public appreciation of how planning shapes community well-being. Each restored square, renewed street, and conserved building strengthens our shared identity and sense of belonging. By experiencing these stories firsthand, participants are inspired to value and protect the heritage that makes every locality uniquely Maltese.

For more information or to reserve your place, contact the Planning Authority on 2290 2021 or email [email protected], or book online.