A National Archives awareness week is being held in Gozo for the third consecutive year. It opened yesterday with the inauguration of an exhibition by Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo; on the theme The Citadel – the crown of Gozo.

The exhibition is being held at the Gozo Public Library in Victoria. It features a number of documents related to the Citadel, plans of the fortifications, maps, as well as old photographs, selected from several of the 26 entities whose records are deposited at the Archives. Concurrently, there is also an exhibition of 350 photographs taken by Gozitan photographer Daniel Cilia, at the beginning of his career. They are a picture record on the state of the Citadel of Gozo in the 1980s.

Minister Debono spoke about the importance of the Gozo Citadel as a cultural and tourist attraction, mentioning the funding secured recently by the Ministry for Gozo, under the EEA Financial Mechanisms, for a master and conservation plan project that would lead to better management and conservation of the Citadel.

A working group has been set up to formulate the necessary tender for the carrying out of the required studies. The government has also applied for further funding possibilities under the European Union’s Structural Funds Programme for Malta 2007-2013 for more extensive works to be carried out at the Gozo Citadel.

The exhibition The Citadel – the crown of Gozo will run until Saturday 3 November and is mounted within the premises of the National Archives Gozo Section, in Vajringa Street, Victoria.

It is open Mondays to Saturdays from 8am to 1pm; and on Wednesdays, up to 6pm. Entrance is free.