A meeting of the past with the present

There will be a meeting of the past with the present when the Cruise Passenger Terminal in Pinto Wharf is finished - apart from having all the modern amenities, the terminal will incorporate some of the historical buildings and structures which make the Grand Harbour one of the world's finest ports.

The Pinto Stores, commissioned by Portuguese Grandmaster Fra Don Emmanuel Pinto de Fonseca in the 18th century, have been restored and brought back to a standard where they can be used, while the old quay, built by the Knights in the 1750s and improved by the British before being covered up, is being reinstated.

David Drago, of Architecture Project - the architecture firm entrusted with the project by the Viset Consortium - told The Times that the aim was to bring life back to that part of the harbour.

In fact, the Pinto Stores, which have been painted in the cheerful primary colours reminiscent of those used for traditional Maltese balconies, will be used as restaurants, bars and cafés, and will be open to all, not only to cruise passengers. Mr Drago said parts of the stores had been completely demolished by bombing during World War Two and needed to be constructed from scratch, but all in all the stores were in a fair state.

Another major project being considered by the consortium is the introduction of a cable car system linking the wharf to the centre of Valletta, which is a brisk 15 minutes walk away, and would prove uncomfortable in the heat of summer.

Mr Drago said the whole idea targeted a closer link between the cruise passenger area and the capital, making the journey quicker and less stressful, so tourists would not have to struggle up the hill leading to Valletta, especially in the sweltering heat.

The possibilities of this system have been studied by the consortium, which, Mr Drago said, was being linked with the Park and Ride project that has been approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, sited just beyond the Licensing and Testing Department in Floriana. The scheme envisages a 950-car parking area where motorists could park their cars, and get into the city by using a small electrically-powered midi-bus.

Mr Drago said that by incorporating the two projects, the cable cars could leave from the car park, pass through Pinto Wharf and go on to Valletta, and in this way kill two birds with one stone, since those wanting to go to the Pinto Wharf area could make use of the car park too.

Part of the project was also to make the area between the Pinto Stores and the newly reinstated quay pedestrianised, and a new road passing from behind the stores was opened recently.

Bringing the water closer to the buildings as it was in the time of the Knights has already been done by the consortium. In fact, if one passes along Pinto Wharf at the moment, one can see a huge "hole" full of seawater in front of the stores. This will be developed into an inlet where small boats can moor for a short while without obstructing cruise liner operations.

The inlet (menqa) also allowed the consortium to uncover the old quay (il-moll l-antik). Mr Drago said that in the 1970s part of the harbour was reclaimed to make it easier for big ships to berth, and the 18th century wall, with steps leading into the water, was covered.

When it was uncovered recently, the wall was found to be in fairly good condition, apart from one part that needed restructuring, he said. Mr Drago explained that the wall was being restructured, and would then be reinstated to its original use, while the quay on the other side of the inlet would be used for the cruise liners to berth.

"Boats can get into the inlet, and moor for a short while, while passengers go for some food, a coffee or a drink in the establishments," he said.

It was not the intention of turning the inlet into a marina, Mr Drago said.

"Boats and water taxis can berth there for a short period, but it is not the intention to have them berthing there for long periods. It is aimed to provide a safe haven for the boats," he said.

Last week the Malta Tourism Authority said it was supporting a water-taxi service between Valletta and Cottonera in a bid to improve access to the Three Cities and help keep alive the dghajsa tradition.

Meanwhile, although at present there was only one Cruise Passenger Terminal at the end of Pinto Wharf, another was expected to be built at the 18th century Forni Stores - the Royal Navy's first bakery - on the other side of the Pinto Stores. Mr Drago said the current terminal was being partly refurbished and partly pulled down and rebuilt, while Viset had already applied for a permit for the second terminal. He said only one third of Forni Stores were still standing, with the rest just being a façade.

"Both terminals will be equipped with the necessary amenities for cruise passengers," he said.