Following an application for an earlier call under the Cohesion Funds for Malta 2007 -2013, the Ta’ Pinu National Shrine will be allocated an EU financial grant of 85% on a project called ‘Discovering cultural and religious tourism in Gozo’ at a cost of €400,000. This finacial aid is being granted to restore the Museum Dar Karmni Grima as well as carrying out restoration works on 12 works of art by Maltese artist, Joseph Briffa.

The restoration works at the museum will include minor structural and conversion works, new electrical installation, an audio visual presentation on the life of Karmni Grima, the installation of a lift to make the museum accessible to all and the installation of photovoltaic cells to improve the energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

The Ta’ Pinu National Shrine is already in demand for a substantial amount of religious pilgrims. Such demand is expected to continue to increase in line with the rising demand in religious tourism. According to the World Tourism Organization, an estimated 300 to 330 million pilgrims visit the world’s key religious sites every year.

Religion is historically associated with tourism. Pilgrims travelling to sacred places were effectively the world’s first faith travelers. It can even be said that pilgrim hospices in Europe were the forerunners of hotels.

Countries such as Italy, Spain and Eastern Europe are experiencing an explosive interest in the old pilgrim routes. The Sanctuary’s Rector firmly believes that with an upgraded Museum of the house where the peasant lady used to live, the message passed on to her by the Virgin Lady will reach new frontiers.

Another component of this project is the restoration of Maltese artist Joseph Briffa’s works of art. Joseph Briffa remains one of the best examples of a Maltese Artist who held high the banner of his academism par excellence. At Ta’ Pinu National Shrine, Joseph Briffa painted 12 episodes in the life of The Blessed Virgin between 1948 to 1952. Like the Emvin Cremona’s paintings, his works also need urgent attention and restoration so that, in the not too distant future, they can also be admired by the public at large.

Once restored the paintings will be housed in the Sanctuary’s Fine Arts Museum together with those of Emvin Cremona. The restoration of these works of art is being entrusted into the hands of Fr Charles Vella and Joanna Hili Micallef. Both have the required expertise to carry out the necessary restoration works.

The restoration works on both the Museum and the works of art should be completed within the next 2 years. Restoration works on the museum are expected to start soon as MEPA approves the pending application on the works being proposed.

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