Works on Tarxien temples visitor centre to start by end 2006

Heritage Malta and Bank of Valletta yesterday held a preview of the Tarxien temples visitor centre - part of the BOV Tarxien Temples Project.

The centre is the first phase in a conservation project that has been proposed for the prehistoric temples complex in Tarxien, under the patronage of the bank.

BOV has committed Lm190,000 to the project, which, overall, is expected to cost Lm600,000, according to Heritage Malta CEO Antoinette Caruana. EU Structural Funds would have to be accessed for the rest of the project, she said.

The visitor centre is awaiting Malta Environment and Planning Authority approval and works should start by the end of 2006, she said. Meanwhile, excavations, including the digging of trenches, would be carried out to see whether there were any archaeological remains in the area.

It is envisaged that the visitor centre would be complete in about two to three years, but that the entire project, which would include further conservation and possible tenting, would take six to eight years due to its "sensitive" nature.

"All wheels have been set in motion" to get the project off the ground, Ms Caruana said.

The project is intended to provide visitors with a better interpretation and, consequently, appreciation of the World Heritage Site through, for example, an elevated walkway system that would go round the site from the visitor centre, providing interesting viewpoints.

The walkway was designed to offer full accessibility to people with disability right into the temple complex itself, as well as greater control on visitor flow to reduce surface erosion by foot traffic over the site, said Alex Torpiano, the project architect on behalf of TBA Periti, who developed the concept.

The BOV Tarxien Temples Visitor Centre, which covers an estimated total floor area of about 700 square metres, would be located on a piece of land in St Monica Street to the north of the temples that the Lands Department has allocated to Heritage Malta. It would be positioned on the opposite side of the current entrance due to the fact that the latter is accessed via a relatively narrow street that cannot easily sustain coach traffic.

The proposed visitor centre would be adjacent to a large open square and to an available parking area that can easily accommodate about three coaches, Prof. Torpiano explained.

He pointed out that the existing entrance building was of historical interest as it was one of the first offices of Sir Temi Zammit. The proposal, therefore, included its restoration in memory of the father of Maltese archaeology, Prof. Torpiano said.

The BOV Tarxien Temples Visitor Centre was designed to be as light as possible, as well as to have minimal impact on the site, with the supporting structure resting on the existing rock, meaning that it would be raised off the ground and would not involve excavation.

Apart from sanitary facilities, a ticket booth and a cloakroom, the visitor centre was planned to include a modern lobby area, a cafeteria and a souvenir shop, as well as a room for audiovisual presentations on the temples to better prepare visitors and control their numbers on the actual site.

The audiovisual display area was also designed to double as a multi-purpose lecture hall, while another important feature was an activity area dedicated to children. An exhibition area on the first floor has also been designed to host exhibitions related to the site.

The bank's chief executive officer, Tonio Depasquale, said the bank has been looking forward to the launch of the visitor centre concept since it signed the agreement with Heritage Malta, taking on the patronage of the Tarxien temples in September 2003.

A lot of necessary work has been carried out over the past two years, including valuable environmental monitoring and temporary shelters for parts of the temples, he said.

The bank was committed to invest Lm190,000 over a period of 10 years in the project, which should also have a positive economic effect by contributing towards the upgrading of Malta's tourism product.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said the Neolithic temples, which date back to 3,600 BC, are among the most frequented. An increase of 3.5 per cent in the number of visitors was registered in 2004/5 (102,264) over the previous years 2003/4, which counted 98,773 visitors.

Although the country was drowning in heritage, it was not being interpreted well, he said, adding that the first efforts of the sort were carried out at the Hypogeum and the Roman Domus, which now boasted excellent interpretation and accessibility.

Thanks to EU funding another important project was being carried out to protect and make known Mnajdra and Hagar Qim.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the BOV Tarxien Temples Project was a prime example of how the private sector could work with the government to safeguard its prehistoric heritage and make it more visible.