“Life at Sea” at the Malta Maritime Museum
Heritage Malta will open the doors of the Malta Maritime Museum free of charge on Sunday 19th May during the annual “Life at Sea” event as part of the European Maritime Day 2013 celebrations which will be culminating in the international conference on the 21st and 22nd of May.
The European Maritime Day pays tribute to “Maritime Europe”. All maritime sectors and activities are put in the spotlight to help European citizens realise the variety of sea-related activities taking place in Europe. In this context a series of public events will be organised in Malta on Sunday 19th and Monday 20th May 2013. Heritage Malta will be participating by organizing an activity entitled “Life at Sea” at the Malta Maritime Museum. The European Maritime day is being held in collaboration with The European Commission and the Government of Malta. The event is also part of the European Day for Museums.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to walk through part of the Traditional Maltese Boats collection which is currently in storage. Over a short period of years the Malta Maritime Museum has saved for posterity 60 full size traditional boats. Many of these vessels will be on display for the first time to the public. Some of the boats on display date back to 1870. Further to this unique opportunity one can also visit the remaining ovens which used to bake 6000 loaves of bread a day for the Royal Navy in its heyday.
Museum exhibits on display will be brought 
to life with the help of re-enactors, historians and curators who will be at hand to provide fresh insight into Malta’s unique maritime past and introduce the visitors to various 16th and 18th century characters. This will be an opportunity for visitors to engage in personal discussion with curators, archaeologists and historians.
The re-enactors who will portray the Order of St. John’s 18th century navy will demonstrate hand to hand fighting tactics, artillery manoeuvres as well as explaining the nasty side of seafaring life.
For the first time at the museum 35 armour clad knights will clash against each other demonstrating the rough life at the quay side in Birgu in the 16th century.
When it’s time for a snack or lunch visitors may opt to visit the Malta Maritime Museum tavern, were 18th century recipes will be prepared for the general public to taste history. 18th century Maltese coffee, pies and heart warming chicken stew may be bought at the tavern. All the proceedings from the canteen will go towards the Museums restoration works.
The Life at Sea event at the Malta Maritime Museum is intended to further show Heritage Malta’s endeavour to preserve Malta’s unique maritime heritage and promises to be another amazing day out for all the family.