Works coming from a capital investment of €2.2 million, with a co-financing of 80% from the funds available from the European Union, on various restoration and conservation projects in 15 parish churches around the island began today.
This was announced outside the Naxxar parish church on Friday by the Administrative Secretary of the Archdiocese Michael Pace Ross, and the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia.
The works are expected to take three years with various restorations being done such as the church and chapel facades, belfries, and artwork.
Other works include a museum in the Visitors' Lodge in the Santwarju tal-Mellieha squarem the archives in the Curia of the Archbishop of Floriana, and studies on the foundations of the Parish Church of Santa Marija in Birkirkara to determine whether there needs to be an intervention due to structural tremors.
Speaking at the announcement, Pace Ross expressed satisfaction at the work done to acquire the European funds and reiterated that many works that are enjoyed by the public will be restored.
"The funds used for the restoration and conservation of our cultural heritage are an investment for the protection of our Maltese identity."
Farrugia echoed Pace Ross's words and added that with the strength of the European funds the concept of the community is being strengthened, as well as caring for the cultural heritage for the future, and enhancing the touristic aspect of Malta.
"More than €80 million in regional funds were invested in conservation and the promotion of our country's cultural heritage, and because of these projects, we are recognizing the touristic potential of heritage sites found outside of the typical tourist localities."
The parishes that are benefiting from the European Fund for Regional Development 2014-2020 are Birkirkara (Santa Marija and Sant'Elena), Attard, Dingli, Balzan, GHarghur, Tarxien, Mellieh, Mosta (including Bidnija), Naxxar, Rabat, Mdina, Mgarr, Marsaxlokk, and Paola (Kristu Re).
Photos by Michael Camilleri