St.Lawrence Hidden Gems Birgu

19/04/2026

What a splendid evening it turned out to be at Birgu Museums by Candlelight. For the first time, St Lawrence Collegiate Church, the Chapter House, and the Parish Museum officially formed part of this prestigious event, alongside Fort St Angelo and the Inquisitor’s Palace.
Our sincere thanks go to Anton Gellel, George Agius, and all the dedicated volunteers who prepared such a magnificent display. We were delighted to welcome a great number of visitors, who were guided by volunteers,through the St Lawrence complex and truly impressed by its Hidden Gems
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all visitors, volunteers, and to Heritage Malta—especially the staff present on site—for making this evening possible. We at St Lawrence are proud to have contributed to such a memorable event.

X’lejla mill-isbaħ kienet Birgu Museums by Candlelight. Għall-ewwel darba, il-Knisja Kolleġġjata ta’ San Lawrenz, Awla Kapitulari u l-Mużew Parrokkjali kienu parti uffiċjali minn dan l-avveniment prestiġjuż, flimkien ma’ Fort St Angelo u l-Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur.
Nirringrazzjaw sinċerament lil Anton Gellel, George Agius u lill-voluntiera kollha li ħejjew wirja tassew mill-aqwa. Kien ta’ pjaċir nilqgħu numru kbir ta’ viżitaturi li ġew iggwidati madwar il-kumpless ta’ San Lawrenz min Voluntiera u baqgħu impressjonati bil-ġmiel Tal Hidden Gems.
Nirringrazzjaw minn qalbna lill-viżitaturi kollha, lill-voluntiera u lil Heritage Malta—speċjalment lill-istaff preżenti—li għamlu din il-lejla possibbli. Aħna f’San Lawrenz kburin li stajna nagħtu sehemna f’dan l-avveniment memorabbli.

10/04/2026

Heritage Malta, in collaboration with the Birgu Local Council, presents the return … Continued

09/04/2026

What a wonderful evening at St Lawrence Collegiate Parish Church!
We were honoured to host the Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers for a truly successful concert. The choir was magnificent, and the church was filled with a large and appreciative audience.
It was also a pleasure for many to view the rare First Book of Masses by Palestrina, which drew great interest.
The singers greatly enjoyed discovering the rich history and hidden gems of our church, as well as visiting Birgu (Città Vittoriosa) and the Inquisitor’s Palace.
A beautifully organised evening and a lovely opportunity to build new friendships for St Lawrence Parish. Thank you to all who attended!

X’lejla mill-isbaħ fil-Knisja Parrokkjali Kolleġġjata ta’ San Lawrenz
Konna onorati li nilqgħu lill-Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers għal kunċert tassew ta’ suċċess. Il-kor kien mill-aqwa, u l-knisja kienet mimlija b’udjenza kbira u apprezzattiva.
Kien ukoll pjaċir għal ħafna li jaraw il-ktieb rari First Book of Masses ta’ Palestrina, li ġibed interess kbir.
Il-kantanti ħadu gost jiskopru l-istorja rikka u l-ġmiel moħbi tal-knisja tagħna, kif ukoll iżuru l-Birgu (Città Vittoriosa) u l-Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur.
Serata organizzata b’mod sabiħ u opportunità mill-isbaħ biex jinbnew ħbiberiji ġodda għall-Parroċċa ta’ San Lawrenz. Grazzi lil kulħadd li attenda!

07/04/2026

06/04/2026

Edinburgh Renessance Singers

Serata ta Muzika u Kultura fil Colleggiata ta San Lawrenz Vittoriosa/ Birgu 9 ta April fis 7:30
Dhul b’xejn
Musical and Cultural Evening at St Lawrence Collegiate Vittoriosa 9 April at 7:30 pm
Admission Free

31/03/2026

Serata ta Muzika u Kultura fil Colleggiata ta San Lawrenz Vittoriosa/ Birgu 9 ta April fis 7:30
Dhul b’xejn
Musical and Cultural Evening at St Lawrence Collegiate Vittoriosa 9 April at 7:30 pm
Admission Free

Ktieb antik u prezzjuż tal-kor instab fil-mużew tal-Knisja ta’ San Lawrenz wara li kien kważi jintrema fost kotba mwarba. Dan il-ktieb ġie stampat f’Ruma fl-1572 u jinkludi ħames quddies miktuba mill-kompożitur magħruf Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.
Il-paġni huma mżejna b’ittri artistiċi u disinni sbieħ, u l-mużika hija miktuba għal korijiet b’erba’ jew ħames vuċijiet. Minkejja li n-notazzjoni hija antika, teħtieġ ħila kbira biex tinqara u tindaqq. Il-ktieb kien oriġinarjament legat b’mod sabiħ, iżda matul iż-żmien ġarrab ħsara. Huwa maħsub li wasal Malta minn Ruma permezz ta’ uffiċjal tal-Knisja sinjur. Illum, huwa meqjus bħala teżor storiku u mużikali importanti.

Din l-informazzjoni nkitbet minn Can. GM Farrugia, wara it-Tieni Gwerra u dan l-artiklu ġie skopert mis Sur George Agius waqt riċerka dwar il-ktieb rari tal-mużika ta’ Palestrina li nstab fil-Knisja ta’ San Lawrenz. Il-ktieb se jkun espost waqt kunċert tal-Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers fid-9 ta’ April fis-7:30pm fil-Knisja ta’ San Lawrenz, Birgu.

A very old and valuable choir book was discovered in the museum of the St Lawrence Church after it had nearly been discarded among damaged books. It was printed in Rome in 1572 and contains five Masses composed by the renowned composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

The pages are decorated with artistic letters and beautiful designs, and the music is written for choirs of four or five voices. Although the notation is old, it requires considerable skill to read and perform. The book was once finely bound but was damaged over time. It is believed to have been brought to Malta from Rome by a wealthy church official. Today, it is preserved as an important historical and musical treasure.

This information was written by Can. GM Farrugia, after World War II and the article was discovered by Mr George Agius during research on the rare Palestrina music book found at St Lawrence Church. The book will be on display during a concert by the Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers on 9 April at 7:30 pm at St Lawrence Collegiate Church Vittoriosa /Birgu
Free Admission

24/03/2026

The Edinburgh Renaissance Singers in Concert
📍 St Lawrence Collegiate Parish Church, Birgu (Città Vittoriosa)
🗓 Thursday 9 April | 🕢 7:30 PM
Experience an evening of sublime Renaissance music, featuring works by Palestrina performed by the acclaimed Edinburgh Renaissance Singers.

✨ Special highlight: The rare First Book of Masses by Palestrina—normally not accessible to the public—will be on display from the St Lawrence Chapter archives.

A unique blend of music and history in a stunning setting—don’t miss it.

Palestrina (c. 1525–1594) was the leading composer of the Roman School and a master of Renaissance sacred music. Known for his smooth, balanced polyphony, he shaped the sound of the Counter-Reformation. His works—over 100 masses and 250 motets, including Missa Papae Marcelli—set the standard for church music. Often called the “savior of church music,” he ensured clarity of sacred texts through refined harmony and counterpoint.
Italiano
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (ca. 1525–1594) compozitur ewlieni tal-Iskola Rumana u surmast tal-mużika sagra tar-Rinaxximent. Magħruf għall-polifonija lixxa u bilanċjata tiegħu, ifforma l-ħoss tal Counterreformatoon Ix-xogħlijiet tiegħu—aktar minn 100 quddiesa u 250 motett, inkluża Missa Papae Marcelli—saru mudell għall-mużika tal-knisja. Spiss jissejjaħ “is-salvatur tal-mużika sagra” għaċ-ċarezza tat-testi u l-armonija raffinata tiegħu.

21/03/2026

✨ Esperjenza Mużikali u Kulturali Rari ✨
Ingħaqdu magħna għal lejla tassew speċjali ta’ mużika sagra tar-Rinaxximent, bil-parteċipazzjoni tal-Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers.
🗓 Il-Ħamis 9 ta’ April
🕢 7:30 pm
📍 Knisja Parrokkjali Kolleġġjata ta’ San Lawrenz, il-Birgu
🎶 Programm sabiħ ta’ mużika a ca****la minn kompożituri kbar tal-mużika korali.
📖 Attrazzjoni Speċjali: Opportunità rari biex taraw il-First Book of Masses (1572) ta Palestrina — kapolavur straordinarju li normalment mhuwiex aċċessibbli għall-pubbliku.
🎟 Dħul b’xejn
📞 Għal aktar informazzjoni: 99291684
Lejla unika li ma tridx titlef!

✨ A Rare Musical & Cultural Experience ✨
Join us for a truly special evening of Renaissance sacred music, featuring the acclaimed Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers.
🗓 Thursday 9 April
🕢 7:30 pm
📍 St Lawrence Collegiate Parish Church, Birgu
🎶 A beautiful programme of a ca****la works by the great masters of choral music.
📖 Exclusive Highlight: A rare opportunity to view the First Book of Masses (1572) of Palestrina — an extraordinary masterpiece not normally accessible to the public.
🎟 Free entrance
📞 Further information: 99291684
A unique concert experience not to be missed.

20/03/2026

Museums by Candlelight’ returns to Vittoriosa
Fort St Angelo, Inquisitor’s Palace and St Lawrence church and museum will be open during special evening hours on April 18

St Lawrence Collegiate First Conventual Matrix Parish church
The Chapel
Photo: Heritage Malta
Tickets on Sale @3€ to visit all sites

13/03/2026

Another Great Musical Evening at St Lawrence Collegiate Parish Church Birgu Citta Vittoriosa

Reeds-School-Choir-from-Cobham-will-perform-a-concert-of-sacred-choral-music

12/03/2026

Birgu, also known as Vittoriosa, is one of Malta’s oldest and most historic harbor cities. Long before Valletta was built, Birgu served as the headquarters of the Knights of St. John. The city is filled with narrow stone streets, medieval houses, and fortified walls that overlook the Grand Harbour. Walking through Birgu feels like exploring a living museum where centuries of Maltese history remain visible in every corner. Today the area has been beautifully restored with small cafés, boutique guesthouses, and a marina filled with luxury yachts. Despite its historical importance, Birgu remains peaceful compared to Valletta, making it a fascinating place to discover authentic Maltese heritage.
Would you explore the historic streets of Birgu?