The church of the Annunciation at Ħal Millieri is a major landmark of Malta’s medieval past.

The annual celebration in honour of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary at the medieval church of Ħal Millieri (Żurrieq) will this year be held tomorrow. Din l-Art Ħelwa, the volunteer heritage organisation which holds the chapel in trust, is organising two guided tours.

The church of the Annunciation at Ħal Millieri is a major landmark of Malta’s medieval past. The present edifice dates to around 1450, but archeological excavations have shown that it was built over the site of an earlier, possibly 13th-century chapel and a much older late-Roman rural complex.

The Ħal Millieri church is best known for its medieval architectural features and for the unique set of fresco paintings that adorn its side walls between the springing of the arches. This anachronistic cycle of holy effigies, which is believed to have been copied from the earlier chapel, has been expertly restored through the efforts of Din l-Art Ħelwa, as a fine exemplar of Maltese medieval vernacular art.

■ The chapel will be open to the public tomorrow between 9am and 6pm. There will be Mass at 10am, followed by the blessing of the adjoining churchyard. The guided tours will be held at 11.15am by Stanley Farrugia Randon and at 4pm by Anthony Mangion, curator of the chapel. The church can be reached from Imqabba Road at the Żurrieq entrance to Blue Grotto Avenue; or from Diamond Jubilee Square (Fuq il-Mentna) at the end of the Mqabba bypass.