The restoration works on the Żebbuġ Chapel of Our Lady of Light (Madonna tad-Dawl) are about to be finalised, the Ministry for National Heritage has announced.

This chapel is one of several selected projects under Local Councils’ restoration scheme. This project was proposed by the Żebbuġ Local Council; its restoration work began in September 2023.

The Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, described the importance of such projects to preserve our historical and cultural identity. He also thanked all workers involved in this project.

“The restoration of the Chapel of Our Lady of Light is testimony to how important the preservation of our cultural heritage is,” Minister Bonnici said, “This is to ensure that the historical sites remain part of our community for future generations.”

This chapel is one of the oldest chapels in the locality. Before this chapel was constructed, another chapel previously existed on the site. During the Second World War, in 1941, the chapel evaded major damage when a bomb fell nearby but did not explode. However, the chapel had sustained considerable damage to its bell tower after a bomb detonated on site; the damage had been repaired so that the chapel could continue to be used.

All work for this project, from the beginning of the compilation of documentation, to applying for a permit with the Planning Authority, and the work on the chapel itself, is being done by the Department of Restoration and Conservation.

The side and rear façades of this chapel have already been completed. The final stages of this restoration project require a little work on the building’s main façade and on the bell tower.

Present for this visit were Żebbuġ mayor Steve Zammit Lupi alongside several members of the Żebbuġ Local Council.