Ongoing restoration work at the Cittadella in Victoria, Gozo has turned the old citadel into a death-trap, with dangerous construction works left exposed and flights of stairs hidden in the pitch black darkness.

The Malta Independent witnessed several dangerous spots within the walled city on one night last week, at a time when tourists and Maltese alike were still visiting the picturesque city – a contender for UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

The right side of the hill leading to the citadel has been turned into a hastily built car park and many government cars and construction vehicles were parked on both sides of the road leading into the main gate.

Inside the first piazza, visitors are greeted by the high scaffolding which completely covers the court building facade on the left, and a concrete-block wall blocks off access to the arch on the right. All of the side streets connected to the central road leading to the rear of the citadel (Triq il-Foss) are closed off, most of them in pitch darkness since, for some obscure reason, most of the street lighting was switched off.

On the rear side of the Cittadella, some of the roads near the ruined houses are closed off with metal barriers, although no warning lights were in place. The eastern bastion, which overlooks the town centre, was however completely accessible to the public, despite exposed works, broken pavements and unlit staircases.

A flight of more than 50 steps behind the cavalier was barely visible in the dark and visitors could easily fall down to the lower bastions below. A small stone structure in the middle of the pavement nearby was also completely hidden in the dark. Visitors could easily trip on it and break a toe, or an ankle.

The Cittadella is currently undergoing a €6 million restoration project, mainly funded by the EU. The work was supposed to be carried out in phases but it seems that most of the works are being carried out simultaneously, making the Cittadella a disappointing visit for tourists. To make matters worse the works are being carried out in the summer, when eager tourists flock to see one of Gozo’s prime attractions.

A source said that while the restoration works are necessary and will greatly improve accessibility to the old citadel, the lack of health and safety measures is “appalling.”

The source said: “The Cittadella should be closed after dark if most of it is undergoing restoration and construction works. If not, then adequate lighting and signs should be installed and dangerous areas closed off. This is an accident waiting to happen. There should also be wardens patrolling around the city, for if someone fell down a dark flight of steps no one would notice until the next morning.”