Naxxar council calls for restoration of niche

Naxxar local council has written to the archpriest of the town asking him to see to the restoration of a historical niche in the village, which was damaged towards the end of last year.

Council executive secretary Paul Gatt said the damage to the niche of t'Alla w'Ommu, situated at the last bend on the hill of the same name before turning towards Burmarrad, was reported damaged on October 25. A police investigation was carried out and an architect's report was drawn up.

The report concluded that the niche, listed by Mepa as a grade two building, was probably hit by "some kind of high machinery or truck".

Resurfacing work on the road started in August and was supposed to be completed within six weeks. However, the work is still not yet complete.

Mr Gatt said the council took action to remove all dislodged stones, which it has stored in a safe place.

He said that as the niche most probably belonged to the Church he wrote to the archpriest asking him to see to its restoration.

An estimate of the damage shows that this could reach some Lm2,000.

Historian Anton Spiteri suggested that during the restoration of the niche one should consider copying the painting within so that the original, which could barely be seen, could be placed at the parish church.

He said that in the past, it was common for people to stop in front of the niche and say a prayer.

Mr Spiteri said the area surrounding the niche was an interesting one. An entrance beneath the niche could be a Punic grave, a bit further down was the cholera cemetery, there were also cart ruts in the vicinity and a chapel which had been recently restored.

According to the book Naxxar - A village and its People, edited by Paul Catania and Louis J. Scerri, the niche is a unique one in the sense that it stood on its own.

"Built above an old Phoenician tomb, it has the shape of a small steeple with four pointed ends, and a balustrade in front.

"The front is closed with a fixed iron grille while there is a small door at the side. Hanging on the wall at the back of the niche there is a painting of Our Lady holding the Baby Jesus. One reaches the niche by means of a flight of steps from the lower end and a passageway from the higher level."

The book says that although the origin of the niche was unknown, it was surely an old one. In 1729 an indulgence of 40 days was granted to all those who said a Hail Mary in front of the picture.

In 1840, the Knight of Justice Giovanni Parisio Muscati restored it. It is popularly held that the painting has given rise to the name of the hill.