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Restoration Of St Bartholomew Church In Żurrieq Begins

Restoration Of St Bartholomew Church In Żurrieq Begins
Aug 14 2024 Share

Maintenance and restoration work has begun on the Church of St. Bartholomew, located in Żurrieq in the area known as Xarolla, to return it to its original state.

The work, being carried out by the Department of Restoration and Preservation, is expected to be completed by February 2025.

During a site visit, the Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, stated that this restoration work is crucial to protect the historic heritage of Malta and preserve it for future generations.

 

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“The Church of St. Bartholomew is an integral part of the history and identity of Żurrieq, and it is important to give it the attention and care needed to continue serving as a place of devotion and historical remembrance.

We are committed to continuing our efforts so that these churches are appreciated and recognized for their cultural value,” Minister Bonnici said.

Originally, a smaller chapel dedicated to the same saint was located on this site, built in 1482. In 1775, the process began to build a larger church, which was completed in 1784.

The restoration project will include, among other things, repairing and repainting all the church’s apertures, restoring the main door, working on the church’s roof and dome, reapplying a lime-based mortar to the church’s facade to match the color of the original stone, and replacing deteriorated stones where necessary.

Also present during the visit were the Mayor of the Żurrieq Local Council, Rita Grima, members of the Żurrieq Local Council, and Archpriest Fr. David Cardona.

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Restoration On Santa Liena Walls & Gate Completed

Restoration On Santa Liena Walls & Gate Completed
Aug 14 2024 Share

The extensive restoration work on the walls and gate of Santa Liena in Bormla has been completed.

The Department of Restoration and Preservation within the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government has finished the restoration work on the fortification walls between the bastions of San Ġwann t’Għuxa and Santa Liena, part of the Santa Margerita fortifications in Bormla.

The restoration, which covered 320 meters of fortification walls, also included the Santa Liena gate. This project, which began in April of last year, was carried out with an investment of €1.2 million.

This was announced by the Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, Alison Zerafa Civelli, during a site visit.

Minister Owen Bonnici emphasized the importance of such restoration work to protect historical fortifications and preserve the national heritage for future generations.

 

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He stated that this project is part of a series of conservation projects being undertaken by the government to safeguard and restore historical buildings in Malta.

Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli added, “The restoration and conservation of historical sites continue to add value to Maltese and Gozitan localities. Local Councils play an important role in this area as they are well aware of their locality’s needs.”

The fortification walls were built in the 18th century and include the Santa Liena Gate, also known as Porta dei Mortari. This Baroque-style gate was designed by the French military engineer Charles François de Mondion, the resident engineer of the Order.

The restoration work included cleaning the stone, preserving the original patina wherever possible, removing cement-based mortar, consolidating and filling joints, replacing deteriorated stones, and restoring the banquettes and platforms on the gate.

Parts of the upper fortifications that were damaged during World War II were also rebuilt. Sections of cracked rock along a length of around 100 meters were stabilized using rock-bolting techniques.

The Mayor of Bormla, Marco Agius, and the Bormla Local Council were also present for this visit.

#MaltaDaily

Activists Call For End To Femicide After Nicolette Ghirxi Murder

Activists Call For End To Femicide After Nicolette Ghirxi Murder
Aug 14 2024 Share

Francesca Zammit, Chiara Leone Ganado and Antonella Bugeja in collaboration with Young Progressive Beings took to the streets of Valletta in demonstration to call for an end to femicide, after the tragic murder of Nicolette Ghirxi earlier this week.

The activists carried placards, with some of them showing telephone support lines (179) and anonymous crime reporting (119), to urge people to not be afraid to speak up in such situations.

Other placards read ‘stop killing us’, with an Instagram caption reading:

‘Today’s action in reaction to the femicide of Nicolette Ghirxi. She should be alive today.’

Ghirxi was murdered by Edward William Johnston, who was killed by police after a 3 hour stand off in St Julian’s after he pointed a replica gun at officers attempting to negotiate with him.

#MaltaDaily

Torino Show Interest In U-16 Maltese Player Caden Tanti

Torino Show Interest In U-16 Maltese Player Caden Tanti
Aug 14 2024 Share

According to Replay (Net Television), several Italian clubs are closely monitoring the progress of young Maltese footballer Caden Tanti. Tanti, a promising defensive midfielder from St. Andrew’s academy, has caught the attention of Serie A club Torino, which has officially invited him for a trial in Italy in the coming weeks.

At just under 16 years old, Tanti is already seen as one of the most exciting talents emerging from Maltese football.

Torino is keen to evaluate his skills further and has requested permission from St. Andrew’s for Tanti to join them for training sessions in late September and early October at their Camplus Regio Paro facility.

Tanti’s abilities have also drawn informal interest from other top Italian clubs, including Fiorentina and Juventus, who are considering inviting him for trials in the near future.

This growing interest highlights Tanti’s potential and the rising recognition of Maltese talent on the international stage.

The agency GM Marketing & Sport, which represents Tanti, has played a key role in facilitating these opportunities. The same agency also helped fellow Maltese player Dale Vella secure a trial with US Catanzaro 1929, further demonstrating their commitment to promoting local talent abroad.

#MaltaDaily