After years of restoration work, the facade of the Archbishop’s Palace in Valletta was inaugurated. This was done with an investment of €225,000, with 80% co-financing from European funds, from the European Fund for Regional Development.
This work was inaugurated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection Chris Fearne and by the Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi during a visit to the Palace, which is one of the hill of projects that form part of the Heritage Trail, which is also financed by the same European Fund.
Over the years, the Archbishop’s Palace, which is a Grade 1 building, suffered structural damage, as well as damage to the architecture of the facade and therefore the restoration process involved the removal of redundant items that were attached to the facade, cleaning of the stone and concrete, and the replacement of some stones.
The Deputy Prime Minister praised the synergy between the Curia of Malta and the Departments that manage the European Funds that our country receives, which is leading to the preservation of a number of historical and cultural buildings around Malta and Gozo, which many of them are ecclesiastical properties. He recalled that restoration initiatives that form part of projects such as the Heritage Trail, which are possible through these European funds, not only enrich the Maltese cultural heritage, but also increase the touristic value of the country.
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi said that it is gratifying that the restoration of the facade of the Archbishop’s Palace, which is a building of great historical value in our Capital City, has been inaugurated. He said that the Church in Malta has the cultural and religious heritage close to its heart and fully seeks to protect it, and he claimed that this is a constant commitment, as evidenced by a number of projects carried out over the years.
