Restoration on St John's chapel nearly complete

Restoration works on the Cappella d'Italia within St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta have entered their last phase and the restored chapel will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on December 9.

The works, which cost more than Lm250,000, are being carried out with the help of funds from the Italian Fifth Financial Protocol in collaboration with the Co-Cathedral Foundation. The restoration is being carried out by Italian restorers.

Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit, who is responsible for the works through the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee, visited the chapel yesterday.

He said the Italian team restored two lunettes and the marble, bronze, stone and wood sculptures. Delicate interventions were also made on the gilding, the paintings and all the chapel's walls.

The project, which was embarked upon in February last year, also saw to the mitigation of dampness.

Mr Zammit said that the Maltese government bought the scaffolding which would now be used in other projects.

Through the protocol, the Cathedral's organ was also being restored. The work was being done in Padova and in Malta and it was planned to be finished by February.

The ministry, Mr Zammit said, helped the foundation through the provision of architects and engineers for the implementation of various projects.