Cotoner bust to be restored

The bronze bust of Grand Master Cotoner on top of Notre Dame de la Grace Gate at Vittoriosa has been removed from its place for urgent cleaning and restoration.

The initiative was taken by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna which is responsible for the care and management of the gate. The work has been entrusted to the Malta Centre for Restoration at Bighi.

The bronze bust is thought to have been cast in 1675, the year when the new Cottonera Lines were started. It was erected on top of Notre Dame de la Grace Gate, popularly known as Zabbar Gate, to seal in time the great deed of the Grand Master Fra Nicola Cottoner in building the new lines of defence.

The Cottonera Lines are some seven miles long and were intended to protect the Three Cities from being hit by the plunging artillery fire of enemy guns during an attack.

The bronze bust weighs 800kg and the haulage operation (pictured) to bring it down from its place took six hours.

FWA plans to substitute the original bust with a modern replica in bronze in an effort to better protect the original, which will be housed indoors.