An online poll on The Malta Independent website has indicated that many people would like the site of the old opera house in Valletta to be rebuilt as it was before or as a theatre.
Fifty-six per cent of the respondents said that an opera house or theatre should be built instead of the ruins of the architectural gem that was destroyed during World War II (on 7 April, 1942), an idea that however seems to have been discarded by the government, at least for now.
The online poll is not a scientific survey but it is clear evidence that many people are sentimentally linked to the Valletta of the past and would like to see it revived. Whether the rebuilding of the opera house would reach such a goal however is a big question mark.
Many times we have heard successive governments planning what to do with the old opera house site, a subject that has always led to a large measure of controversy. But the plans never came to fruition, and the site has been left abandoned to its own destiny in spite of the fact that nearly 65 years have passed since it was bombed.
The latest “plan” was to construct a building that would house Parliament, an idea that did not go down too well with the Maltese public.
It must be admitted that where Parliament meets today – within the Presidential Palace in Valletta – is not suitable particularly because the place has grown too small to meet with the exigencies of 65 MPs and the administration of the House. But the idea to have a building for Parliament constructed just inside the entrance of the capital city received more negative than positive feedback, and the idea was shelved.
More recently, after some cultural events were held successfully within the ruins, it has been proposed that the area could be converted into an open space for such activities. No buildings have been suggested, but the area could receive a facelift and host cultural events that coincide with bigger activities such as Notte Magica or Notte Bianca, or held on their own.
What is important is that the ruins – if they are to remain such – are “maintained” and get a much-needed facelift to provide such a backdrop. On the whole, it is always better to have cultural activities there rather than seeing the area used as a car park.
This takes us to another hot subject, one that has always created controversy each time there was a hint that something was about to be done – City Gate itself. City Gate was often incorporated with the old opera house when plans for the entrance to the capital city were being considered but, again, nothing much was done about it.
It would be fair to say that few people like City Gate the way it is. But then, when it comes to proposing what to do to make it look better, there is little agreement. Some would want it to look like it used to in the past, others prefer a more modern structure.
There is then the issue of the bus terminus – will it remain there, or will it go underground? What will happen to Freedom Square?
It is evident that the project in itself is too vast to take place at one go, and yet all parts need to be linked to each other. And this is what has discouraged successive governments from starting and finishing the project – it is too expensive and it would take too much time.
Yet, on the other hand, it must be admitted that City Gate and its surroundings need to be upgraded. It is the first impression tourists get of our capital city, and it is not a nice impression.