Restoration Project Launched For The Church Of St Mary Of Bubaqra, Żurrieq

The Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, has announced a restoration project on the façade and parvis wall of the Church of Saint Mary of Bubaqra in Żurrieq.

Dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, the chapel is believed to date back to before 1450 and formed part of a network of small rural churches that served the surrounding area during the fifteenth century.

The project forms part of the ongoing efforts of the Restoration and Preservation Department to protect and conserve Malta’s ecclesiastical and cultural heritage.

Minister Bonnici said that the intervention reflects the Government’s continued investment in the preservation of sites of historical and religious importance, while also strengthening the cultural identity of the Żurrieq community.

He added that the project will improve the appearance of the area, encourage greater appreciation of local heritage and create a space that can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors.

The restoration works will focus on the portico and the church’s main façade, including the first-floor doorway and the frontispiece. These sections have suffered deterioration caused by humidity, biological growth and the natural degradation of materials over time.

Condition surveys carried out before the start of the project identified flaking paint, detached render, damage to the stonework and biological colonisation on exposed surfaces.

Significant deterioration was also found in the reinforced concrete beams and roofing structures forming the portico, which were identified as a safety concern requiring structural intervention.

The works will include the manual cleaning of stone surfaces, treatment and removal of biological growth, refilling of joints using hydraulic lime-based mortar and sensitive repair works to damaged areas where stone replacement is not necessary.

All interventions are being carried out under professional supervision and in collaboration with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

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