PM opens his office to the public 24/7

Ever wondered what it would be like to stand in the Prime Minister's office or in the middle of the room where Cabinet members meet to discuss issues of national importance?

Would you like to peek into the Prime Minister's summer residence in Girgenti without having to wait for an open day?

In an attempt to satisfy such curiosities, the Office of the Prime Minster has posted a series of virtual tours on its website.

Visitors to the site can project themselves into Castille, Girgenti or the recently-restored Villa Francia, used for official functions.

They can pick the place they would like to view and, with the click of a mouse, they are taken to the centre of that room or garden.

The site allows for a 360-degree view of the area with the option to zoom in on items of interest.

"By embracing technology we are increasing accessibility to Malta's history and heritage.

"This also means people can visit Malta's heritage through their computer even if they live abroad," an OPM spokesman said.

A taste of this heritage will be physically on display tomorrow when Castille opens its doors to the public for a real walk-through as part of the Notte Bianca events.

On the night, themed Gozo in Castille, Gozitan artistic and cultural elements of Castille will be displayed.

Concerts will be held in the courtyard from 8 p.m. till midnight and an exhibition of Gozo-related artefacts and manuscripts will be held in the Ambassadors' Hall.

Gifts given to the Prime Minister will be on display, including a bronze and gold pen from Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.

The virtual tours can be viewed on https://opm.gov.mt/virtualtours .