The Archbishop's Palace in Valletta will welcome visitors on Saturday, 20 June 2026, for a special open day celebrating the restoration of the historic Chapel of St Joseph, originally built in 1622.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to admire the chapel's newly restored 18th-century Baroque interior, commissioned by Bishop Alpheran de Bussan, alongside significant artistic and architectural discoveries uncovered during the conservation project. Among these are paintings by Silvestro Querio il Romano (c.1600-1672) and a Renaissance coffered ceiling commissioned by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares.

Visitors will also be able to explore parts of the Archbishop's Palace rarely open to the public, including the Throne Room and the Chancery, both featuring restored 18th-century painted ceilings and historic cabinetry.

As part of the event, a series of talks in English will be delivered throughout the morning. At 10:30am, Suzannah Depasquale will present Research, Discovery and Curatorship: Architectural and Artistic Heritage in the Chapel of St Joseph. This will be followed at 11:00am by Valentina Lupo's talk, The Conservation of St Joseph's Chapel: A Multidisciplinary Approach to a Complex Interior. At 11:30am, Dr Theresa Vella will conclude the programme with The Renaissance Legacy in the Chapel of St Joseph and the Impact of the Baroque Age.

The conservation project was carried out under the patronage of Archbishop Charles Scicluna, with generous support from Madame Marie-Amélie Gleizes Dewavrin.

Dating back to the early 17th century, the Archbishop's Palace is located in the lower part of Archbishop Street, near Independence Square in Valletta. The palace will be open from 9am to 2pm, and entrance is free.