The restoration of 15 cultural projects in Gozo have been completed, resulting in the establishment of a religious heritage trail.

Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds, Chris Bonett, together with the Kura Association, announced that the restoration of 15 cultural projects, which were restored through European funds, has been completed.

They also announced the establishment of a heritage trail for religious tourism, giving the public the opportunity to enjoy these projects.

The projects included restoration of facades and bell towers of churches, bell towers, ceiling paintings and domes, regeneration of museums and oratories and restoration of organs and others.

The last part of the project included the first heritage trail of religious tourism in Gozo, an initiative that will also be advertised abroad.

The Parliamentary Secretary said that the government is supporting investments in cultural heritage “to further develop our country’s national assets in supporting business development and strengthening tourism industry which is one of the main drivers of the Maltese economy.”

He concluded by saying that, “as we have reached the end of the 2014-2020 European funds programme, projects like these are the testimony of how this government is using all the resources to invest in the Gozitan economy, in this case in the improvement of cultural heritage and tourism, ensuring that Gozo remains at the centrer of this government’s policy.”

Leader of the project, Noel Formosa explained that this occasion marks the last phase of a holistic project carried out by the Kura Association during the last 5 years during which several localities benefited from European funds, to restore heritage that belongs to the parishes, churches and centres located in Gozo.

“We can say that this project not only renewed this heritage but also saved it for the generations to come” said Mr. Formosa.

The Administrative Secretary of the Curia in Gozo, Anthony Bezzina, said that for the Diocese of Gozo this occasion is important because the Diocese, through the Kura Association is closing a project co-financed by European Funds, in order to take care what they left before us.

“The Church in Gozo feels obliged to take care of this heritage and is doing so thanks to European funds as with this heritage trail we have launched it will help so that, not only we can enjoy these jewels that we have in Gozo, but also to expose it to those who come to visit us while helping the tourist sector,” concluded Mr Bezzina.

For this project, which cost €2.24 million, €1.7 million was allocated from the European Regional Development Fund, under the Priority Axis 5 programme.

It was explained that “this programme is dedicated to the protection of the environment with emphasis on investment in natural and cultural assets with the aim of improving Maltese competitiveness in the tourism sector through the promotion, protection and preservation of natural, cultural and historical assets, which are intended to further improve the Maltese and Gozitan cultural tourism experience, while also generating more tourist flow to our islands.”

The sites that have been restored and form part of this religious heritage trail are:

The Parish Church of Santa Margerita, Piazza Sannat – Restoration of the bell towers and organ

St George’s Basilica – Restoration of 17th century dome paintings and frescoes

Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Victoria – Restoration of dome paintings

Cathedral Museum, Citadel, Victoria – Restoration of the museum building

Fontana Parish Church – Restoration of the exterior of the Church and the parvis as well as restoration of the paintings

Santa Lucija Parish Church – Restoration of the parvis

Kercem Parish Church – Restoration of the ceiling paintings

Gharb Basilica – Restoration of paintings and organ

Church of Christ the Saviour, Ghasri —Restoration of the exterior of the church

St Paul’s Church Marsalforn – Restoration of the exterior of the church

Xaghra Parish Church – Restoration of the paintings

Nazarene Church, Xaghra – External restoration works, including works on the parvis

Parish Church of St. Joseph, Qala – External restoration works including the church

Don Bosco Oratory, Victoria – Internal restoration works including mainstage and backstage.

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