The Malta Experience, the island's foremost audio-visual attraction has enthralled audiences since its launch in the 1980's.
Situated in Malta's capital city Valletta and housed in a purpose-built theatre in the Mediterranean Conference Centre, formerly the Holy Infirmary of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. The story unfolds on a large panoramic screen with an outstanding music soundtrack and an informative commentary available in a choice of seventeen languages, selected via the viewer's headset.
The show starts intriguingly, with the mysterious legacy of the prehistoric inhabitants of Malta and Gozo…
…and charts the stories of wave after wave of invaders and colonisers, each contributing to the unique character of the islands.
A highlight of the show is St Paul's dramatic arrival on Malta and the subsequent spread of Christianity.
The Knights of St John ruled the islands for some 250 years. Their rise and fall are brilliantly chronicled, along with the horrors of the Great Siege of 1565, and the building of Valletta.
The story of the islands' chequered history continues through the coming of Napoleon, the imposition of British rule, and the dark days of the Second Great Siege, of World War 2, which tested the population's bravery and endurance to the limit.
The Malta Experience covers 7,000 years of Maltese history, giving visitors an excellent opportunity to orientate themselves and learn more about the many different aspects of the Island's culture and history. Having attracted millions of visitors throughout the years, the show is considered as one of the must-see attractions on the Island.
To further engage the visitor into the island's history, a fully guided tour of the Mediterranean Conference Centre is also available. This purpose-built building was constructed by the Knights of St John and was known as "La Sacra Infermeria", the Holy Infirmary and is one of the most imposing buildings of Valletta. The tour is ably narrated by knowledgeable guides that immerse the visitor into the charted history of this grand building.