In a statement this evening, Gozo’s heritage society, ‘Wirt Ghawdex,’ has said that it “notes with satisfaction the approval given by MEPA last week to the Ministry for Gozo’s application for the rehabilitation, restoration and management of Gozo’s Cittadella.”

Wirt Ghawdex said that the” proposal for a visitors’ centre fills a long felt void by visitors to the Cittadella where apart from being provided with decent facilities they will have the opportunity to get information about the site’s history and importance.” It said that the “site chosen for the visitors’ centre will make it possible for the visitors to appreciate another architectural gem, the reservoir, which has been hidden from the public eye for more than a century and a half.”The society said that it is not surprising that MEPA unanimously approved such a project since during the compilation of the Master Plan all stakeholders were given the opportunity to air their concerns and make their suggestions. “Wirt Ghawdex is proud that it participated actively during the consultation phase of the Master Plan.”

Wirt Ghawdex said that it “agrees with the proposals made by the Ministry for Gozo with respect to the restoration, rehabilitation and management of this important site. The society describes the interventions proposed as both bold and sensitive; bold because they address the long drawn problems which have been affecting Cittadella for decades and sensitive because all the interventions proposed were carefully made in the best interest of the site.”

Wirt Ghawdex continued, that it “also noted with satisfaction that much needed consolidation and restoration works are at hand on the Cittadella bastions and one can already see that the interventions being carried out will give a new lease of life to the bastions which were in a precarious state.”

The society, which runs the gunpowder magazine, sally port and lower battery at the Cittadella under a management agreement with the Ministry for Gozo said that “in the coming days the site will be closed to the public due to works for the installation of walkways and low voltage light systems financed under the Eco Gozo NGO subsidy Scheme.”

Bottom photo shows the Gunpowder Magazine, site under Wirt Ghawdex management.

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