Restoration of St Anthony's Battery

Work continues in earnest during the hot months on one of Din l-Art Ħelwa's most challenging restoration projects so far, that of St Anthony's Battery at Qala Point.

The project has been entrusted to the organisation by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) and is co-funded by Din l-Art Ħelwa, the Qala local council and Mepa's Environmental Fund.

The coastal battery of Sant'Antnin, as it is locally known, has suffered from the ravages of time and vandalism and was almost reduced to mere rubble had Din l-Art Ħelwa not intervened to save it. Its hardstone was carted away and a magnificent coat of arms over its main gate stolen. Many of the remaining walls fell victim to the elements.

It stands isolated in the remotest point of Qala guarding the straits between Gozo and Comino permitting limited and difficult accessibility to even the most dauntless rambler.

St Anthony's Battery, built in 1732 by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena, is one of the only two coastal batteries built by the Order of St John to have survived in Gozo, the other being at Il-Qbajjar, outside Marsalforn.

Designed on a regular plan with five faces of embrasures for 11 guns and with ancillary accommodation, it has a gorge wall with a projecting tenaille all pierced with musketry loopholes.

Above the main gate were carved two shields, one had the Cross of the Order while the other had Vilhena's coat of arms.

When the restoration of the battery is completed, it will form part of a heritage and nature trail.

The project, costing about €68,000 (Lm28,000), is expected to be completed within two years.