Restoration works carried out on the facade of the Notarial Archives are nearing completion, said Chief Notary of the Government Keith German.
The historic building, dating back to the period of the Order of the Knights, has had on going restoration and alternations for the past year to preserve the building and to make the archives more accessible to the community.
The restoration works form part of a €5 million rehabilitation project co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund to transform the Archives into a state of the art cultural hub.
Through such interventions, not only are we ensuring the preservation of such magnificent historical buildings found in our capital city, but we are making the Notarial Archives more accessible, while making use of their full potential for the benefit of our community, said Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici. “As a government we are committed to further enhance and invest in our local heritage.”
The restoration project will be transforming the two notarial archives into one building. The Notarial Archives housed in the 18th Century Palazzo in St Christopher Street and the adjacent building at 217 in St Paul Street will be interconnected and transformed into a hub of historical research, conservation and scientific investigation. The funding received is not only for the preservation of the collection of over 20,000 notarial volumes but also to enhance the accessibility of the Notarial Archives for researchers and the general public.
The building will have a museum and visitors centre, which will showcase the collection and attract not just researchers, but the local public and tourists who are interested to learn more about the historical, cultural heritage of Malta and learn more about the aim of preserving and protection of such documentation. There will also be an art paper conservation laboratory, and new repository. Bonnici said that hopefully the Ministry will once again visit the Notarial Archives the following year, this time to inaugurate the new space.
The Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron Farrugia said that this project, financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is part of a chain of cultural initiatives, including MUZA, the Grandmasters Palace and the Manoel Theatre. He stressed that this project is to strengthen not only Maltese culture and historical heritage but also European heritage.