Valletta: Black Friars Oratories Entry Ticket & 300-Year Access

Summary

Centuries-old oratories, secret rooms and sacred art in Valletta

You’ll walk through doors closed to visitors for centuries at Valletta’s Black Friars Experience—exploring two hidden oratories, rare silver relics, and a basilica filled with sacred art. Hear stories from local guides and catch small details—the scent of incense, sunlight on stone—that stay with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

We were already halfway down St. Dominic Street when the guide waved us over — she had this way of making you feel like you’d just stumbled into a secret. Inside the Valletta Black Friars Experience, the air was cool and smelled faintly of incense and old wood (maybe dust too, but the good kind). I kept thinking about how these oratories had been locked up for 300 years. The first room was quiet except for our footsteps and the soft Maltese chatter from a caretaker in the corner. I tried to imagine what it must’ve been like here when the Dominican community filled these halls — hard to picture with just us and all that silence.

The Silver Room was next — honestly, I didn’t expect it to be so dim, with little glints bouncing off old chalices and crosses tucked behind glass. Our guide told us some of these treasures hadn’t seen daylight in centuries. She pointed out a silver reliquary that apparently survived Napoleon’s lot (she grinned at my raised eyebrow). There’s something about hearing those stories right where they happened — makes history feel less like homework, more like gossip passed down. And then there was this moment in the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo: sunlight slanting through colored glass onto stone floors, just for a second. I still think about that light.

I don’t know if everyone gets caught up in the details — like the smell of wax near the sacristy or how one of the friars nodded at me as he shuffled past (I mumbled “bonġu” and probably got it wrong). But you notice things more when you know you’re somewhere most people haven’t seen in ages. The whole place is wheelchair accessible, which surprised me given how old everything is. We wandered out after an hour or so, blinking at the brightness outside, still whispering without meaning to.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Valletta Black Friars Experience

• Enter Valletta Black Friars Experience
• Explore two historic Oratories
• Visit the Sacristy and Silver Room
• View treasures hidden for centuries
• Tour Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo
• Admire St. Dominic's architectural masterpiece
• Learn about Dominican Community history

Top questions

Is Valletta Black Friars Experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

What does the entrance ticket include?

The ticket includes access to two historic oratories, the Sacristy, Silver Room with ancient treasures, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo & St. Dominic.

How long has the site been closed to visitors?

The oratories have been closed to the public for over 300 years.

Are service animals permitted?

Yes, service animals are allowed inside.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to the site.

Do I need to be physically fit for this experience?

No special fitness level is required; suitable for all abilities.

What’s included

Your entrance fee covers access to both historic oratories—closed off for hundreds of years—the Sacristy and Silver Room full of hidden treasures, plus entry into Valletta’s Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo & St. Dominic. Everything is wheelchair accessible so everyone can join in exploring these rarely seen spaces.