The bronze Triton Fountain statues were more damaged than expected, according to Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Joe Mizzi.

Addressing the press this morning, Mr Mizzi explained said the statues will take longer to be restored.

“The bronze plates can mostly be arranged and restored to as they were originally,” said the Minister, explaining that the the statues and bronze plates were taken to the foundry ‘Fonderia Artistica Fernando Marinelli’ in Florence, Italy in order to be restored. Mr Mizzi elaborated that the welding process would take longer following the discovery of more cracks within the structure.  

In the coming days the bronze plates will be taken to Vicenza to be further refined. “It took us about three years to find someone to restore it,” said Mr Mizzi, calling the previous state of the fountain "embarassing". He emphasized that a professional to do the works “was not easy to find”. The works on the three figures are expected to be completed by the end of next month.

The €4 million project involving the restoration of the fountain, at the entrance to Valletta, will still be finished by the end of the year.

Other works including the creation of a new pump room for the fountain, which will be located where the public toilets used to be. While developing the pump room, an old wall was found which was hidden. Mr Mizzi said the wall in the pump room will be restored, with both the pump room and the underground tunnel to the fountain is expected to be ready by first week of May.

The work is being carried out together with the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation.

Call to public to collect Triton memories

The government is calling on the public to send in photos of the Triton Fountain, or the area prior to the fountain being built, in order to create a collection of photographs linked with Malta’s iconic fountain.

The photographs will be used in publications, exhibitions or activities linked with the project.

The photographs could be both old or new, and do not have to specifically depict the fountain but could also show the street life surrounding the area.

Any images can be submitted at the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure between 29 and 30 May from 9am-12pm in the morning and 2pm and 4pm in the afternoon.

The photos can also be sent electronically via [email protected] or by uploading it on the website www.tritoni.gov.mt.