The inauguration took place this morning of the late medieval chapel of St Cecilia in Ghajnsielem, the only one of its kind to still exist in Gozo.

The chapel has been given a new lease of life by means of an extensive restoration programme funded by the Ministry for Gozo through the eco-Gozo scheme for NGOs. The work was coordinated by Wirt Ghawdex.

The Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, carried out the inauguration of the chapel and praised the the restoration work that had been carried out on the project and thanked all those involved. The Minister said that the chapel can now be enjoyed by the public after almost 400 years, not only by locals but by the Maltese and tourists who visit the island during the year.

“It is just under two years ago that the extensive project of restoration first started on the chapel by the Ministry for Gozo, with the collaboration of Wirt Ghawdex and the Baron Group. Architects, technicians and other workers from within the Ministry for Gozo, who all worked in coordination with the contractors on the project,”

The Minister also thanked Magistrate Paul Coppini, the former President of Wirt Ghawdex, for helping the Ministry in this project, Franco Masini, the new Wirt Ghawdex President and its Executive Secretary, Giovanni N. Zammit.

Since its profanation in 1644 up to a couple of years ago, the structure served as an animal shed and a store. Recently it was expropriated by Government at the request of the Ministry for Gozo so that urgent restoration works could be taken in hand. The chapel had in the past suffered from neglect and even a serious vandal attack which caused considerable damage to the monument.

The restoration work included the installation of wood flooring, energy saving lighting and the planting of endemic plants.

The outer walls were rebuilt and the roof of the chapel was remade using traditional materials. Rubble walls surrounding the chapel were repaired or reconstructed.

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