Notte Bianca set to light up the city

Notte Bianca is once again set to light up the cityscape of Valletta on September 29 with a nocturnal celebration of people, culture and arts.

Organised by the Malta Council for Culture and The Arts, state palaces and museums will open their doors for visual art ex­hibitions and theatre performances, while the streets and piazzas will host some of the finest local and international musicians and dancers.

Some 130 activities will be organised throughout 60 different locations in the city.

Artistic director Peter Busuttil said yesterday that this year’s edition will include a novel location – on board a floating vessel.

He also announced that it will be his final edition as artistic director.

Culture Minister Mario de Marco said that despite Valletta being the cultural, administrative and commercial centre of Malta and therefore a city which many were familiar with, it still offered many new experiences waiting to be discovered.

“During Notte Bianca, Valletta is transformed into an open performing theatre. It provides a platform to help Maltese people appreciate and understand the country’s heritage,” the minister said.

On September 28, the Science in the City festival will be filling the capital with science-inspired art, music, dance and installations. Some of these activities will continue into the next day.

A number of guided tours will be held on September 30.

The entrance to Notte Bianca will be through City Gate, while patrons are asked to use the Central Bank Annex (St James Counterguard passageway) as the exit point.

Arriva will be offering a special price ticket and extension of service for Notte Bianca. A round trip ticket to and back to all localities for €2.50 will be issued.  A special bus service will operate from Valletta until 3 a.m. Arriva’s Park and Ride services will also be available with a direct shuttle from Blata l-Bajda and back.

Ferry boats will also be running on a regular basis from Sliema and Vittoriosa to Valletta.