Palace chapel to be restored by early next year

The Palace chapel in Valletta, currently being restored at the cost of Lm200,000, will be open to the public when the project is completed early next year.

The remaining works consist of the completion of the restoration of the canvas painting, the installation of a new lightning system, the restoration of the damask and the re-opening of the blocked doorway to the chapel. President Eddie Fenech Adami visited the restoration works accompanied by Ninu Zammit, Minister for Resources and Infrastructure, and Ray Bondin, executive chairman of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project.

When the Magistral Palace was built by the Knights of St John the Grand Master's bedroom was next door to the chapel which served as his private chapel. During the first years of British rule the chapel was used for protestant services and later it was turned into an office. The frescoes by Filippo Paladini adorning the chapel depict the life of St John the Baptist and are among the most important 16th century frescoes on the island. They were heavily damaged during World War II, when about three quarters of the fresco layer got detached.

The frescoes were held in place by means of a layer of sheets of paper in 1942. Subsequently, expert studies were conducted on the possibility of carrying out restoration work on them, however, it was deemed unfeasible. In 1998 the Getty Conservation Institute and the Courtauld Wall Painting Department agreed to undertake the task, at the request of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project.

The restoration of the original painted wooden ceiling was carried out by the Dresden University of Fine Arts.

These works complement the other important restoration works taking place at the Palace in Valletta, at San Anton Palace and Verdala Palace.

The palaces contain historical artefacts that constitute part of Malta's national patrimony.