3 semaphore towers, including Ta’ Kenuna Tower in Nadur and 7 shelters across Malta and Gozo have been added to the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

The SCH explained that there are only three semaphore towers in Malta and Gozo, purposefully built to serve as communication tools during the British colonial era, and thereby added to the Inventory collectively.

These towers served as vital links in a semaphore telegraph network that facilitated rapid long-distance communication across Malta and Gozo.

Positioned strategically in the localities of Ghaxaq, Gharghur, and Nadur, the towers ensured comprehensive coverage across the islands, facilitating efficient transmission of information.

With regards to air-raid shelters, SCH said that they are cultural heritage features and should be protected in keeping with the Cultural Heritage Act 2002 (CAP 445), as amended.

However, it said that these WWII shelters have been found to contain religious iconographic reliefs on the interior rock-face, enhancing their inherent cultural heritage value and warranting formal recognition in the Inventory.

It explained that there is no documentation that confirms the identity of the artist behind these evocative reliefs, except for one shelter at Triq l-Imrigg, attributed to local sculptor Alfred (Fredu) Azzopardi.

SCH said that Azzopardi enjoyed a reputation as an interior decorator and carried out work in stone for several churches before the Government of Malta commissioned him to sculpt religious images in a number of shelters. Nevertheless, none of these works are signed by the artist and no documentation pertaining to the remaining six shelters exists.

The Superintendence encouraged the public to visit the GIS Interface on its website, which not only serves as a portal of information for all sites located in the National Inventory, but can also easily highlight the latest additions when selecting “Latest Entries” on the left-hand navigator.

The Superintendence stated that, “as outlined in Article 59(1) and Article 70, it is imperative to note that any development or intervention on these properties requires prior approval from the Superintendent.”

Furthermore, it said, “causing damage to any of the properties included in the Inventory, even if privately owned, is strictly prohibited and constitutes an offence punishable by law.”

The National Inventory is a cultural heritage register curated and compiled by the Superintendence as one of its functions established by the Cultural Heritage Act (CAP 445).The full list of properties recently added to the Inventory are shown above and also found on Government Gazette No. 21,189, by clicking here.

Photos: SCH

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