Superintendence of Cultural Heritage

The protection and statutory regulation of cultural heritage in the Maltese islands dates back to the Ordinance of 1910, updated by a series of Acts, with the last legislation being the Cultural Heritage Act of 2002, amended in 2021. The primary aim of this legislation is to ensure that Maltas movable, immovable, and intangible cultural heritage is protected, conserved and promoted. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage was consequently established by this legal framework as the sole regulatory body to represent the State on matters relating to cultural heritage, and thereby entrusted with ensuring the protection and accessibility of the nations cultural heritage. The enactment of the Cultural Heritage Act of 2002 allowed the Superintendence to expand its reach and functionality, including the curation and publication of the national inventory, the surveillance of movable and immovable heritage, excavation, research, and monitoring of archaeological sites, as well as the prot...