Parliament of Malta

An opera, a bomb, and rebirth

The Royal Opera House once stood here — an opera theatre from 1866, the pride of the British era. In April 1942, a German bomb struck the building, reducing it to ruins. For decades the remains stood in central Valletta as a melancholy reminder of war. It took Renzo Piano to give them new life.

An open-air theatre

Piano did not rebuild the opera — instead he transformed the ruins into an open-air theatre called Pjazza Teatru Rjal (Royal Theatre Square). He preserved the original columns and walls as scenery, placing modern seating and a stage between them. The effect is magical: audiences sit among the ruins of a 19th-century theatre, under the Maltese sky, listening to concerts and performances. It is one of Europe's most atmospheric venues for cultural events.

The new parliament

Right next to the opera ruins, Piano designed Malta's new parliament building (2015) — a structure of limestone blocks whose façade resembles giant blades or rocky cliffs. The contrast between the opera ruins and the modern parliament is deliberate: Malta looking simultaneously at the past and the future.

Practical tip: Pjazza Teatru Rjal is open to walk in — explore the ruins up close. Check the events calendar: concerts in the opera ruins are an unforgettable experience.