The newly-landscaped Vittoriosa Waterfront will be inaugurated on Sunday, The Malta Independent has learnt.

The bulk of the Lm450,000 project was undertaken in the first phase last year, with the paving of the entire area between Admiralty Gate and the Menqa area close to Fort St Angelo.

The aim of the project was to bring together the various elements that have established themselves along the historic waterfront, such as the Casino di Venezia, the Grand Harbour Marina, St Angelo Mansions and the various catering outlets that have sprouted up at the Old Treasury Building, right next to the Maritime Museum.

Other catering and retail outlets will be opening up along the front in the coming days.

The second phase of the project is being completed this week. This includes the lighting of the entire area and the embellishment of the waterfront with trees and shrubs.

Repairs to the paving, which was damaged by the heavy vehicles that have been parked along the waterfront in the past months, are also being carried out during this phase. The pavements are totally accessible to people with impaired mobility.

Three works of art will be placed along the waterfront.

The first of these, a steel sculpture by artist Charles Sammut, will be unveiled during the inauguration on Sunday.

The project was funded by the government, the four consortia operating along the waterfront and the Malta Transport Authority.

The inauguration of the waterfront will be marked with an activity for all the family on Sunday starting at 5.45pm, which will include street entertainment as well as a variety of food and drink.

The activity, which is open to everyone, is sponsored by the Treasury Development Co. Ltd, the Cottonera Waterfront Group, Casino di Venezia and Schembri Bros.