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ViGiLO - Din l-Art Ħelwa
ISSUE 54 • NOVEMBER 2020
DLH
NEWS
St Agatha’s Tower
A RED JEWEL OF OUR HERITAGE
By Maria Grazia Cassar
St Agatha’s Tower, or the ‘Red Tower’, is back to its beautiful glorious self thanks to the intensive restoration both inside and out which was made possible by the European Regional Development Fund, Operational Programme 2014 - 2020.
T
he official inauguration took place on 7th September, the eve of the feast of The Nativity of Our Lady, il-Vitorja, which is celebrated in a special way in Mellieha, being the dedication of its parish church. Julia Farrugia Portelli, Minister of Tourism, unveiled a plaque and together with Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Dr Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and the Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority Dr Gavin Gulia who were also present, praised Din l-Art Ħelwa for its stirling work, thanking its volunteers for their dedication and efforts. Din l-Art Ħelwa’s Executive President Professor Alex Torpiano thanked the Ministry for Tourism and the Secretariat for their considerable help in the co-financing as well as the implementation of the project, saying that this was a new and successful model of cooperation between Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Ministry. It is not enough, however, to look after the ‘jewels in the crown’ of Malta’s heritage, but it was vital to protect all of Malta’s environment, both natural and built, against destruction and bad development.
Completing this much awaited restoration was another milestone for Din l-Art Ħelwa, as 20 years after the first restoration a major overhaul was needed, especially the plastering and painting of the façades which was not an easy task. Under the expert guidance and supervision of conservation architect Edward Said, and with the collaboration of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, the right materials, technique and colour were achieved. An updated, eco-friendly electrical system was installed internally and externally, and all the walls were cleaned and replastered with a lime-based material. A new parquet floor was laid, leaving the original flagstone flooring and the cistern visible beneath glass panels. The roof was treated with a suitable waterproofing material and finished with a non-slip paint, while a new metal waterspout was added to ensure that water from the roof did not gush down the walls. Restoration work on the front steps gave the access to the tower a muchneeded improved appearance.
Top left: The newly plastered and painted Red Tower. Photo: Joe Attard Above: Professor David Bartolo, volunteer at the Red Tower raises the Din l-Art Ħelwa flag once more at the tower on 1st September 2020 after 18 months closure due to restoration and the Covid pandemic.
