Revitalising Heritage: €650,000 Investment In Restoration Of Saint Nicholas’ Curtain Wall
Restoration work on Saint Nicholas’ Curtain Wall, a part of the Cottonera Fortifications, is currently underway with an investment of €650,000.
Saint Nicholas’ Curtain Wall, situated between Bormla and Fgura, is being restored by the Restoration and Preservation Department. This curtain wall is located between the Bastion of Saint Nicholas and that of Saint John, together forming part of the Cottonera Fortifications designed by Antonio Maurizio Valperga, commissioned by the Knights of St John.
During a press conference led by the Minister for National Heritage, Owen Bonnici, and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli it was explained that the works are being carried out with an investment of €650,000. The restoration commenced in November 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. In total, these works will cover an area of over 4,500 square meters of fortifications.
Minister Bonnici explained: “Through initiatives like these, we continue to enhance the value of our national heritage, shaping our identity as a people. The Cottonera area plays an integral part in our efforts to invest into the upkeep of our patrimonial heritage.”
“The restoration aligns with our cultural strategy, aiming to increase the appreciation of our country’s heritage. With this restoration project, we are valorising this historical site, and preserving it for the enjoyment by the general public and the tourists who visit us,” concluded Minister Bonnici.
Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli had words of praise and appreciation for the work and dedication of the restoration department workers. She said that maintenance and restoration work on the curtain wall is an important measure in the preservation of Malta’s historical heritage. “It is our duty to continue to stress for the preservation, promotion and cultivation of all the characteristics that make up our Maltese identity” concluded the Parliamentary Secretary.
GLEN BEDINGFIELD
The ongoing restoration works include cleaning, new pointing, plastic repair of the stone, replacement of deteriorated stone, restoration of the curtain wall, parapet, and of the superior slope. The restoration also involves the consolidation of fragile stone areas and other conservation works on the stone from which this Curtain Wall is built.
Present for this Press Conference was also the Bormla Local Council and Fgura Local council.