Imagine walking through the narrow, sun-kissed streets of Bormla, one of Malta’s Three Cities. You’re surrounded by ancient buildings, their stone facades whispering tales of centuries past. Now, picture these streets filled with water, as they were during the Great Siege of 1565. This isn’t just history; it’s Malta’s maritime heritage, and it’s under threat.

The Sinking Secret

Malta’s Three Cities – Bormla, Birgu, and Isla – are sinking. Not metaphorically, but literally. The land is subsiding, and the sea is encroaching, threatening to swallow the very foundations of our maritime history. The cause? A combination of factors, including climate change, groundwater extraction, and the weight of our own buildings.

The Race Against Time

Enter the Maritime Museum of Malta, a guardian of our maritime heritage. They’re leading the charge, working tirelessly to document, preserve, and restore the Three Cities’ maritime past before it’s too late. Their mission? To save the secrets of our seas.

Take the Birgu Water Polje, for instance. Once a bustling port, it’s now a sunken secret, its watery depths hiding remnants of Malta’s maritime past. The Maritime Museum is working to map and document these underwater archaeological sites, before they’re lost forever.

The Future of Our Past

But preservation isn’t just about the past. It’s about our future too. The Three Cities’ maritime heritage is a draw for tourists, a source of pride for locals, and a reminder of our resilience in the face of adversity. Losing it would be like losing a piece of ourselves.

So, what can we do? We can support the Maritime Museum’s work. We can visit the Three Cities, learn their stories, and share them. We can advocate for sustainable groundwater management and climate action. And we can hope that, together, we can save our sinking secret.

As Dr. Stephen Azzopardi, Director of the Maritime Museum, says, “Malta’s maritime heritage is not just about ships and sailors. It’s about who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going. It’s about our identity, our culture, our very existence as an island nation.”

Let’s not let that sink away.