Limestone Heritage

Limestone Heritage turns a disused quarry into a day out for families, couples and curious travellers. It stands in Siġġiewi, a traditional village in the south-west of the island, and its theme is the stone that built Malta, from the prehistoric temples to Valletta's bastions and the humble farmhouse.

It is a family-run business and appears among our museums in Malta. It is more than a museum: a living experience in which live artisan demonstrations, interactive exhibits and hands-on workshops show how Malta was built from its iconic limestone. Whether you come solo, as a couple or with children, it is designed as a calm pause within a historic setting.

The quarry and its exhibits

The site was the idea of Emanuel Baldacchino, a quarryman by trade, whose family has run quarries for generations. With his wife Anne-Marie, whose family were builders, he transformed a disused quarry into a showcase for this ancient craft and gathered exhibits from across Malta that might otherwise have been lost.

Your ticket includes a multilingual audio guide, so you can walk through at your own pace past dioramas and careful reconstructions set against the quarry walls. There is a state-of-the-art auditorium with a multilingual introductory show, and some indoor exhibits, all air-conditioned and equipped for visitors with special needs. A souvenir shop and a cafeteria are on site, and the story stretches back some 20,000,000 years.

Gardens, animals and the waterfall

Outdoors, a typical Maltese citrus grove and a 30-foot waterfall add the scent of oranges and the sound of falling water. The shaded gardens, courtyards and lawns offer a cool pause on a hot day, and access to the gardens comes with the museum ticket. The setting suits visitors who like to slow down and enjoy Malta at a different pace. Children will enjoy the farm animal park, where donkeys, goats and swans live.

If you are planning your trip, our Malta weather guide will help you choose a month, and our things to do in Malta page suggests how to fill the rest of your days, and where to stay in Malta helps you choose an area. Children may also enjoy Adventure Hub, and the Ħaġar Qim Archaeological Site is a nearby museum listing.

Workshops and tastings

Stone carving workshops run every day from Monday to Saturday, 9am to noon, and no experience is needed. Tools, stone and refreshments are provided, professional craftsmen are on hand, and you may exhibit your work free of charge or even sell it. Request a place in advance and the team will confirm.

Limoncello making takes place every Thursday at 11am. You pick lemons from the trees, peel the zest, and see how it is put in jars with alcohol to rest for two weeks. Private sessions are available for groups of at least 10. Olive oil and olive tasting uses fruit from trees grown in the garden, and the workshops are described as hands-on ways to connect with Maltese culture. Everything is aimed at visitors who want to take part rather than only look, and the quarry walls shelter the citrus trees that supply the lemons.

Eating, events and prices

il-Kċina is the on-site Mediterranean restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, serving artisan pizzas, homemade pasta and Maltese-inspired dishes, plus light bites, wines and cocktails. The Waterfall Gardens and conference spaces are also hired for corporate events, weddings, parties and conferences.

Tickets bought online carry a 10% discount: adults €9.00 instead of €10.00, children €3.50 instead of €4.00, and a family ticket €22.00 instead of €25.00. The attraction has won awards for best visitor attraction and best tourist shop, and a Malta Crafts award in 2011. From Valletta, public transport runs towards Għar Lapsi. For the wider south, see our Ħaġar Qim temples guide and Blue Grotto guide. To ask a question, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message on.