Yesterday’s ceremony, presided over by Minister Ninu Zammit, included the presentation of certificates to Public Works Department employees who attended a course on rubble walls held by the Building Industry Consultative Council.

The windmill project included other, surrounding, areas such as the catacombs and the chapel and cemetery dedicated to St Andrew. Mr Zammit said that the area had been neglected for quite some time and that work carried out a few years ago had resulted in more damage to the stonework before the problem was rectified.

Restoration work has also been carried out on St Andrew’s chapel. Mr Zammit said that the chapel had not been visible from the street and so the wall in front of it had been replaced by a lower structure that allows a better view of the chapel.

During work in the catacombs, three more tombs were excavated. New paving has been laid and an elevated access has made the catacombs more attractive to visitors. A new electrical system has also been installed to give the area a special appearance at night.

Mr Zammit described the project as a small archaeological park, for which a new road had been built, for better traffic. All the work had been carried out by Public Works Department employees.