The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola visited female-run restoration laboratory Atelier del Restauro, a Maltese leading conservation and restoration company, founded by a team of Maltese and Italian conservators.
Conservator and director of the company Valentina Lupo, explained the work that has been conducted on an 18th Century Roman wooden crucifix, the main focal point of Senglea’s Oratory dedicated to the Passion of the Christ.
President Metsola praised the company, which is predominantly run by women, for their commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage.
“Today more than ever, we need to enhance what brings Europeans together. And nothing does this better than our shared heritage. This is why we need to put culture and cultural heritage at the very heart of our European project,” remarked the President of the European Parliament.
During the past years, Atelier del Restauro were entrusted with conservation and restoration works such as the 400-year-old altar painting of The Assumption of Our Lady at Ta’ Pinu’s sanctuary, the dome of St George’s Basilica in Gozo and the frescoed dome of St Helen’s Basilica in Birkirkara- co-financed by the European Union.
Valentina Lupo said: “We are honoured to have President Metsola visit our laboratory and acknowledge the importance of our work in preserving Malta’s cultural heritage. Our team is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of restoration while respecting the historical significance of each piece we work on. The support from initiatives like the co-financing by the European Union enables us to carry out these vital preservation projects effectively. We believe that by safeguarding our cultural heritage, we contribute to fostering a sense of unity and identity among Europeans, as President Metsola rightly emphasized.”
