Valletta’s Marina Curtain Restoration Underway With Investment Of €330,000
Victoria Gate, one of Valletta’s two remaining gates, is located in what is also known as the Marina Curtain.
It is a piece of Valletta’s original enceinte, created by Francesco Laparelli in 1566. It links St Barbara Bastion, with a view of Grand Harbour, to St Peter and Paul Bastion’s flank, which secures the city’s eastern land front.
The area became a small marina and bustled with activity back then. By 1884 Del Monte Gate was too small for this busy part of Valletta and that is how Victoria Gate came about.
The area is currently being restored to its former glory.
“This restoration fulfills our cultural strategy in a way that our heritage is more accessible. We are bringing back a historical site that can be admired also by the general public and tourists alike,” Minister for National Heritage, Owen Bonnici announced at a press conference.
Bonnici explained, that the works are being done with an investment of €330,000 and cover circa 3000m2 of bastions. The restoration process which started in October 2022 should be concluded this year.
“The consolidation works can be categorised in three main interventions: firstly, the replacement of the missing stone cladding, secondly the repair of the remaining existing stone cladding and finally the rock consolidation through rock bolting and shotcrete,” Senior Architect, Chanelle Busuttil explained.
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