President of Malta Marie-Louise Colerio Preca visited the packing process of a painting by Mattia Preti, depicting Santa Rosalia before it is sent to Sicily for an exhibition dedicated to Santa Rosalia, Palermo's Patron Saint.

Gianfranco Micciché, President of the Sicilian Regional Assembly formally asked President Coleiro Preca, in the name of the Republic of Malta, to contribute to this international exhibition by granting the painting by Mattia Preti, Santa Rosalia, 1677-78, a request which the President acceded to.

The President said that it was befitting to facilitate this request, as such a gesture is an effective example of cultural diplomacy, further adding that it also highlights the level of friendship which exists between the people of Malta and the people of Italy.

The exhibition will be inaugurated on 4th September in the Duke of Montalto Halls of the Royal Palace and will include some of the best paintings of the time depicting the saint protector of the people of Palermo.

The Mattia Preti painting of Santa Rosalia was recently restored in 2016, and was sponsored by the Maltese and Palermo branches of the Rotary Club, in collaboration with Din l-Art Ħelwa, and they were carried out by 'Sante Guido - Giuseppe Mantella, Restauro Opere d'Arte'.

Photos by Alenka Falzon