Roman house reopened after rehabilitation

A person's cultural experience of Malta would be far more intense if the heritage sites remained open while restoration and conservation works were under way, according to Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

"Many rightly complain that places of interest are closed to the public for years during the restoration, but these works take time and as the saying goes: Rome was not built in a day," he said.

"However, I encourage Heritage Malta to start adopting the policy where instead of keeping national treasures closed for years while the work is being carried out, people can witness the restoration with their very own eyes - just imagine the experience," he said.

Dr Zammit Dimech was speaking yesterday during the reopening ceremony of Domus Romana in Rabat, wrongly referred to as the Roman Villa, which has been closed for three years for a fully-fledged rehabilitation that cost Lm180,000.

Opened by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, the Roman house is the first museum Heritage Malta has inaugurated since it was set.

Another policy Dr Zammit Dimech referred to was the government's stand to stop promoting Malta solely as a tourist destination, but as an experience.

He added that plans were also under way to add the restoration centre to Heritage Malta's responsibilities to ensure there was greater synergy between the two entities.

Delving into the extensive history of Domus Romana, Dr Zammit Dimech also mentioned that the adjacent Howard Gardens would be restored to connect Mdina to the older part of Rabat, a project estimated to cost Lm700,000.

The Roman house is rich in history and some of the exhibits date even earlier than Roman times, going back to two or three centuries BC although the mosaic dates back to one century BC and one century AD.

The entrance fee to the Roman house, which will be open seven days a week, is Lm2.50 for adults; Lm1.25 for students and senior citizens and 75c for children aged between six and 11.