The Valletta Rehabilitation Project is busy preparing for the Lm200,000 restoration of the Cappella d'Italia, at St John's Co-Cathedral which is being financed through the Italian Protocol.

As part of the project three bronzes from the funerary monument of Grand Master Gregorio Carafa (1680-1690) have been removed.

VRP coordinator Ray Bondin said the removal of the bronzes gave a unique opportunity to the public to admire the backdrop to the monument made in relief marble and showing the Battle of the Dardanelles.

Mr Bondin said the marble commemorating the battle that took place during the Candia Campaign of 1656 is an excellent example of relief marble combined with an intarsia technique used to render a full-scale battle scene with a topographical insert.

Carafa was the Captain General of the Order's fleet at the time. He commanded a six-galley squadron assisting the Venetian galleys.

Carafa's leadership in the battle stopped the Ottoman fleet from entering the Aegean Sea. It is said that 47 Turkish galleys and 46 sailing ships were destroyed and over 2,600 Christian slaves were freed.

The restoration project is being carried out by Italian restorer Sante Guido with the collaboration of St John's Co-Cathedral.

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