Valletta gardens opened after Lm250,000 improvement job

The Upper Barrakka, Malta's "national garden", which has been undergoing a Lm250,000 embellishment project, was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in the presence of Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit, yesterday.

The garden is open to the public from today but will be closed on Friday to open again on Saturday.

No stone was left unturned and the quality of work and materials used exceeded normal standards, in keeping with the garden's importance, Ray Bondin, the executive coordinator of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project, which was responsible for the design and execution of works, said.

The upgrading project, which included general embellishment works for a more modern look, is part of a four-year project to rehabilitate the gardens in the capital.

The services at the Upper Barrakka have been improved, a new lighting system, benches and street furniture installed, new paving laid and more trees planted, while the bastions have been cleaned, the garden's balcony restored and the kiosk refurbished.

The work also involved the restoration of the garden's 22 monuments and marble plaques, while 180 new lights have been installed and over 50 trees planted.

Dr Bondin said the idea was to stick to the garden's original design, which was upgraded using natural stone. The designer was architect Dorianne Micallef, while the lighting system is by engineer Stephen Buttigieg.

The idea behind the garden's restoration was to maintain and improve its historical value, while introducing a design that complements the area and attracts visitors.

The Upper Barrakka - the highest point of Valletta, enjoying the best panoramic view of the Grand Harbour - is the most visited garden by Maltese and foreigners alike, attracting over 700,000 visitors a year.

It is now in the hands of the Environmental Landscapes Consortium.