Restored Vilhena monument inaugurated

The Floriana monument to Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena, whose restoration was for a time shrouded in a controversy over what form it should take, was re-inaugurated yesterday in the presence of Dona Luisa Manoel de Vilhena, a descendant of the Grand Master's brother.

Valletta Rehabilitation Project coordinator Ray Bondin said the controversy surrounding the monument of the Grand Master some years ago was "unjust and groundless".

The VRP had not been in favour of moving the monument and was faced with an urgent request to conserve it, he said.

It had opted for a simple cleaning project and waited for the right moment to embark on a thorough restoration and conservation project.

Its tactics had proved right, Mr Bondin said, adding that for a number of years there was no bronze conservator in Malta.

The professional opinion was that the statue should be placed indoors and a copy produced. But VRP had opted for better conservation measures to allow for the statue to stay in its current place in Floriana. It must, however, be treated every nine months and VRP is going to ensure that it receives the necessary maintenance

After an Lm18,000 restoration process, which was carried out in various stages, the project has been successfully completed by Sante Guido and his team, with the collaboration of Keith Sciberras.

Dona Luisa Manoel de Vilhena visited Floriana, for whom a programme of activities was organised in the locality yesterday. She was accompanied by Resources and Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that the next project to be dealt with would be the eagle fountain in The Mall, and the Lion Fountain in St Anne's Street.