The build up to this year’s Notte Bianca was very low key. Many expected it to attract crowds, but not be as popular as the last few years it has been organised. What a mistake.

Valletta was again a hive of activity for this special night. People thronged in their thousands and the fantastic pamphlets which were being given out had finished by about 10.30pm.

It is indeed strange. For a small island in the Mediterranean, we have a wealth of cultural riches, from food, to music, to architecture and pure history. Valletta is of course the main attraction, the gems contained within its walls are far too many to mention – the President’s Palace, the museums, the palazzos, the art collections and so much more.

When Notte Bianca comes around, we experience the Capital City in a completely different, excuse the pun, light.

The many buildings which we normally walk past without blinking an eye suddenly become an attraction, something which we have been meaning to experience for years and have never got round to.

The first time it was organised, Notte Bianca was an event which had massive potential, but needed to be developed further. It has indeed developed further and it has become a well organised cultural

calendar event.

Getting to Valletta on the night has also become easier and many who were previously put off by having to endure the arduous journey to get there have been mollified by the improved public transport arrangements.

Perhaps it is now time to expand the Notte Bianca idea. There are of course other night time events on a similar theme, such as BirguFest and Vittoriosa by Candlelight.

There have also been individual villages such as Mellieha and Mosta who organised, shall we call them, mini-Notte Bianche.

These were largely organised by local councils and they have done well. But there is something very special about Maltese villages when, for just one night, you take away the cars and allow people to be truly Mediterranean. The transformation of these places when cars are denied access is incredible. Restaurants put tables and chairs out, everyone comes out for a drink and a chat, and again, special buildings simply look so much more majestic with th white and yellow light reflecting off the stonework.

Some might argue that these nights should be held across Malta on a specific collective date. But this newspaper is of the opinion that we should allow different villages to have their own Notte Bianca whenever they like. Of course, it would have to be subject to the relevant permits being issued, but there is so much potential.

Aside from being a different night out for Maltese people, such nights have already proven to be a crowd puller in the tourist sector.

Fact is, tourists love our way of life. And when such nights are organised, the Mediterranean in us really comes out in a big way. Tourists love the way we can stand around and enjoy a drink while eating traditional Maltese food in the streets, they love the vendors, the fireworks, our music and our quirky ways.

They should not be tied in to parish feasts, but there should be one event every week throughout the summer and early Autumn months. The Malta Tourism Authority should take the matter up with local councils and we really should pull out the stops. Being out and enjoying ourselves in our village streets is something very Maltese, we love it. Here’s a secret, tourists love it more than we do. Yes, we really should build on the success of Notte Bianca and we should expand it to the rest of Malta and Gozo.