The frescoes in the dining room at the magnificent Verdala Castle are at last to be restored to their original splendour, after the signing of a sponsorship agreement between Heritage Malta and a consortium of four companies.

The agreement was signed at the castle yesterday by President Edward Fenech Adami and Heritage Malta chairman Mario Tabone and representatives of the four companies that will be financing the restoration work, George Fenech from the Tumas Group, Joe Gasan from the Gasan Group, Joe Bannister from the Malta Financial Services Authority and Charles Polidano from the Polidano Group Ltd.

It is estimated that restoration of the frescoes will cost Lm40,000.

The frescoes, which depict figures from Greek mythology and classical antiquity, have been attributed to the famous Italian painter, Filippo Paladini and are thought to have been painted at the end of the 16th century.

In the 1930s, the frescoes were completely painted over in a pinkish-coloured paint at the behest of Lady Violet Bonham Carter, wife of the Governor Charles Bonham Carter, who for some reason did not like them.

Efforts to return the paintings to their original state began in the late 1980s by the now defunct Museums Depart-ment, but came to a halt in 1990, due to lack of funds.

Another restoration effort by the Malta Centre for Restoration began some years ago, but this also came to an end before completion.

However, this project did result in the commissioning of a detailed study on the restoration of the frescoes, together with the estimated cost and an established timeframe for the work. This will enable Heritage Malta to oversee the completion of this badly needed project to restore these priceless frescoes to their former glory.

President Fenech Adami said that this undertaking was the result of a continued cultural renaissance in our country that was making everyone more aware of Malta’s important historical and cultural legacy.

Most foreign visitors remarked on the state of the frescoes, he said, and now, thanks to the substantial donation from these private companies, something that currently sticks out like a sore thumb in what is otherwise a magnificent architectural gem, will finally be restored to its former splendour.