In 2007, the Maltese Government embarked on an extensive
programme aimed at the restoration and rehabilitation of some of the most
important elements of Malta’s unique military architecture heritage. These substantial
works of restoration on the fortifications of
Valletta, Mdina, Vittoriosa, the Gozo Citadel, and
Senglea were part-financed by the European Union through the European Regional
Development Fund under Operational Programme I, and represented the first ever
major investment in modern times that has focused on the holistic conservation
and preservation of Malta’s extensive network of historical fortifications. These
interventions were motivated by the desire to cherish this important but
hitherto largely neglected aspect of Malta’s rich architectural patrimony with
the aim of integrating it more effectively into the island’s cultural and tourism
product. The new holistic approach also provided the opportunity to create a
suitable medium for the proper presentation and interpretation of this unique
patrimony.
The Fortifications Restoration Project (ERDF 039) was first
identified as a proposal worthy of consideration for EU funding in 2007. To
this end a project proposal entitled ‘The Conservation and Rehabilitation of
the Historical Fortifications of Malta and Gozo’ was put together by the then-Restoration
Unit within the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs. This project sought
to draw attention and address for the very first time and in a holistic manner,
some of the main issues presented by the acute conservation problems posed by
the Maltese islands’ unique and prodigious mass of historic fortifications.
Four major works of fortification were eventually chosen to benefit from this
funding, in all comprising a very substantial investment of some 36 million
Euro, spread over a period of seven years, namely those of Valletta, Birgu,
Mdina and Cittadella in Gozo, in all a combined perimeter length of around 6km
of bastions and ramparts. To these was later added a fifth project, the
fortress of Senglea in the Grand Harbour.
These five sites were selected for their historical
and architectural significance, the extent of damage and decay to their fabric
and, last but not least their contribution to the islands’ tourism product. The
projects were so designed so as to address both the problems of the restoration
of the decaying architectural fabric as well as those concerning the
rehabilitation and revalorisation of the fortifications as integral and focal
assets of Malta’s cultural-tourism product. The interventions were intended to
give the fortifications greater dignity as historical monuments and to allow
them to be integrated more visibly into the overall tourism product by
harnessing their economic and cultural potential. These were designed to allow
large parts of the ramparts to be cleaned, repaired and opened to the public as
places of cultural and leisure activities – tourist information centres, museums,
cafeterias and vantage panoramic viewpoints of the surrounding harbour
landscape. The project sought
to introduce co-ordinated, sustainable, and economic lighting
systems which will provide evening and night-time appreciation of the
fortifications of Birgu. The lighting project also included Birgu’s intramural
and historic urban fabric and architectural heritage. The project sought to
promote an artistic enhancement and experience of the fortifications, create
safe and pleasant outdoor spaces, and highlight and emphasise important
features (such as gateways and cavaliers) and other buildings. This project has
been part-financed by the European Union – European Regional Development Fund
under Operation Programme I ‘Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality
of Life’ for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, with a co financing rate of 85% EU
Funds (ERDF) and 15% National Funds .