An ambitious project that will see visitors reliving the past of the Sacra Infermeria, the former hospital of the Order of St John, through cutting-edge technology, has been officially approved by UNESCO, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said yesterday.

Dr Zammit Lewis said that the project, ‘Reliving the Sacra Infermeria,’ had been submitted for scrutiny by the UN organization because of the sensitivity of the site. The project was also endorsed by local entities following an extensive consultation process.

UNESCO also approved of the planned interventions to conserve the historically important building.

Dr Zammit Lewis said that presently, visitors can only admire the building’s architecture. However, through this €10 million project, the hospital’s glorious past will be brought back to life. The conference facilities at the Sacra Infermeria, better known as the Mediterranean Conference Centre, will also be improved.

MCC CEO Pierre Fenech said the building, which is afforded the highest level of protection, will be respected. He explained that areas which are presently closed to the public will be opened up. Visitors will be able to go back several centuries through the use of augmented reality, holographic technology and ‘time-windows.’