Citadella to be restored, upgraded and repaired

Plans in the project include partly closing the 1950s bastions’ arch and the reinstatement of the original citadel entrance, largely unknown to many visitors according to a press release by Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar.

The Visitors’ Centre will use the sally-port or hidden exit within the bastions as an access point to the upper level of the fortified structure. Improved access to the bastions and better use of citadel buildings will be provided by the Cittadella Masterplan.

The FAA said it supported the use of old water reservoirs beneath the outer walls of the citadels for the non-intrusive visitors’ centre as part of the rehabilitation plans. In keeping with the historical surroundings, the plans will accentuate the outside structure whilst being modern in the conversion.

The flank of the reservoir attached to the bastions would require dismantling to restore the view of the bastion-line, but the FAA’s request to retain the first and last arches as “a memory of the past” structure was approved and included in the plan.

A water heritage trail will be included as part of the visitors’ centre to place importance on the aquifer lying beneath the citadel which was why the hill was chosen centuries ago as a defensive post.

Traditional systems of water conservation in wells and a cavern will be the main focus of the water trail linking the heritage theme with the Eco-Gozo sustainability concept.

Archaeologists from MEPA’s Heritage Protection Unit and the Superintendence of the Cultural Heritage will oversee the entire Citadella project. 

"This Masterplan which has received input from many sources over a number of years proves that proper planning that is sensitive to the heritage context, along with extensive consultation with local groups, has resulted in a rehabilitation project which should hopefully meet every sector’s requirements and approval,” said the FAA.