Algardi's Christ the Saviour restored

The Algardi restoration project in St John's Co-Cathedral, which cost Lm10,000 and was financed by the Valletta Rehabilitation Project, has been completed.

The restoration of the figure of Christ the Saviour by renouned baroque sculptor Algardi is one of the most important recent projects, said Resources and Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, who visited St John's yesterday.

The project also involved the historical documentation of the important work, which was created in 1693 for a niche at a Valletta wharf.

The work was carried out by Sante Guido, Giuseppe Mantella and their team, while Keith Sciberras and Jennifer Montagu worked on the research project, part of which was also carried out by Rome's Istituto Centrale di Restauro.

Despite the fact that the responsibility of the co-cathedral has been passed into the hands of a foundation, the VRP has continued to support a number of pending projects, Dr Zammit Dimech said.

The VRP is also still supporting, through materials and other expenses, the group of workers involved in the co-cathderal's maintenance.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the book-stands project, 50 per cent of which was financed by the VRP, is under way, and the VRP was planning to carry out other conservation projects at the co-cathedral, including that of the burial place of La Vallette, the Cappella Ardente and the Chapel of Portugal, for which discussions with sponsors are under way.

Works were currently being carried out at the Jesuits' church, where the restoration of two of nine altars was left. Two paintings were also being restored, and its belfry was next in line.

Bronze and marble in the church of Our Lady of Victories were also being restored, and the Hastings Gardens and the Lower Barrakka were being rehabilitated.

However, the largest VRP project was the rehabilitation of the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which was going to cost Lm200,000 and would be spread over 18 months, Dr Zammit Dimech said.

The project included the gardens, and the saluting battery. The upper part would be landscaped and re-paved, with new electricity systems installed.

Dr Zammit Dimech augured that the rehabilitation of the capital city would also serve to draw back its inhabitants.