What lies beneath
Valletta's sewerage system probably unparalleled in the 16th century
One of the entrances to the subterranean network of tunnels that forms part of Valletta's old sewage network.
It is easy to see how the opulent riches of the St John's Co-Cathedral collection can overshadow a network of sewage tunnels in the debate on whether underground exhibition spaces should be excavated below the cathedral, but architect Edward Said says Valletta's subterranean sewage system is an important monument to 16th century engineering.
"While cities like London and Paris were wallowing in sewage, trying to cope with the pressure of urbanisation, Valletta had a sophisticated system which was probably unparalleled throughout Europe at the time," he explains.
Mr Said actually explored the tunnels personally for his dissertation on Valletta's subterranean network in 2005. What he saw fascinated him.
"To think that it was developed just two years after the Great Siege makes the whole structure seem even more incredible."
Bearing in mind the Knights' obsession with public health, he argues, the tunnels were meant to make sure that the fortress city would not be weakened through self-inflicted disease.
The existence of the tunnels, along with WWII air raid shelters and water cisterns in the precincts underneath St John's Square in front of the Cathedral, have been placed in the spotlight by the debate on the proposal by the Cathedral's foundation to dig up the street to make way for badly needed exhibition space.
A member of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, Mr Said makes it clear he is not against the project as such, but is keen to ensure that the tunnels are preserved. The debate gives him the right platform to raise awareness about the value of the system.
"If we're smart, we would restore the section near St John's square and promote it as a tourist attraction as is done in other European cities which have such subterranean networks," he points out. "The whole structure is quite fascinating. The tunnels themselves are generally tight but they come in different sizes, different heights and typologies of construction.
They really need to be studied, especially as, so far, they remain largely intact.
To boot, the city is peppered with wells, some of them being massive vaults often several stories deep, particularly the ones which belong to palazzos.
In fact, Mr Said believes that underneath St John's Square, opposite the Co-Cathedral, there are such cisterns, considering that before World War II the square was occupied by at least two palazzos which were bombed during one of the many enemy air raids.
The young architect says the Cathedral's foundation appears to be willing to preserve the tunnels underground. In fact, its architect, Edward Bencini, says that the proposed extension could be limited to the area between the sewerage tunnels without disturbing them or the reservoirs in the area.
Mr Bencini also says that, if feasible, access to these tunnels and reservoirs - and possibly the foundations of the buildings in St John's Square that were destroyed during World War II - could be incorporated into the project, working in favour of these underground structures and possibly opening them for public viewing.
"The main point is that utmost care is being taken not to damage any underground structures," he stressed.
Still, the foundation's enthusiasm for the structures beneath the square is tempered by its desire to display the cathedral's riches.
"One needs to explain what the tunnels meant," the foundation said. "They are mainly narrow trenches hewn out of the bedrock for raw sewage to flow through them to an outlet to the sea... Probably they are too narrow to be used for anything else. One needs to weigh what is more important - losing a few metres of sewage trenches that run around St John's street or exhibiting the largest collection of Flemish tapestries in the world.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Petrol price up 6c
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
8 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Raymond Sammut
Sep 9th 2008, 14:18
@vv.pulis
Your second question has been a conundrum in the minds of many ever since the FAA brought to public attention the Foundation’s two submissions to MEPA. To find the answer, you will surely have to dig deep and wide.
There are some points you may want to consider, however:
(1) Dr Gonzi is fundamentally pro-Church as opposed to pro-State.
(2) Dr Gonzi took charge of MEPA at about the same time the Foundation made the submissions.
(3) The Foundation constitutes 50% Church interest.
(4) In a letter submitted to The Times, Mr Buttigieg, public relations officer of the Archbishop's Curia, made the following statement:
Quote:“The deed establishing the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation itself states that this foundation is being set up without prejudice to the outstanding issue about whether the co-cathedral belongs to the Church or to the state.”:Unquote.
That is, the Maltese government has unnecessarily thrown into doubt as to whether it owns the co-cathedral.
(5) It is public knowledge that someone commonly referred to as il-Bocca is the legal representative of the Foundation.
(6) Most buildings in Valletta deemed Museum material are either government or privately owned, but not Church-owned.
vv.pulis
Sep 9th 2008, 10:12
I can't understand why this obsession with keeping the tapestries inside (or under, if the foundation gets its way) St. john's. When the neolithic tamples were discovered did we leave the artifacts found therein in situ? no, we carried them miles away from the temples, (and rightly so) and now they can be enjoyed in the museum of archaeology in valetta. so what's wrong with finding an adequate place a few metres away from St. john's to house the tapesteries?
Francesca Meilaq
Sep 8th 2008, 19:43
Given his profession, it’s amazingly obvious from his final comments, writing off the Knights’ passages as “narrow trenches hewn out of the bedrock for raw sewage to flow through them” that Architect Bencini has not even begun to understand what the passages are about. And this is the person who will be in charge of the Foundation’s claims that it would not do anything to damage Malta’s heritage?
Further comment is superfluous.”
Franco Farrugia
Sep 8th 2008, 19:04
Well, there's money to be made out of the project, whichever way it goes. And some people are already dreaming of how to make the most of it.
Raymond Sammut
Sep 8th 2008, 15:09
"One needs to weigh what is more important - losing a few metres of sewage trenches that run around St John's street or exhibiting the largest collection of Flemish tapestries in the world."
This is not true. There is nothing to weigh. There is no need to lose anything. These underground structures are unique, and every square inch is precious. Many are those who will be interested to come and explore them in their own right as an engineering feat.
We are not to mix lemons with oranges. The collection is a separate animal. The collection can be exhibited safely, securely, and professionally by a group of dedicated and properly qualified workers, at an appropriate building. This above-ground building will be rightly called Museum.
There is no need to complicate things. The Maltese government is responsible in ensuring that all national assets are properly developed (1) without any of them being compromised in any way, and (2) to the full enjoyment of the Maltese public and of those who visit the Maltese isles.
J Farrugia
Sep 8th 2008, 14:18
"One needs to weigh what is more important - losing a few metres of sewage trenches that run around St John's street or exhibiting the largest collection of Flemish tapestries in the world.@ - Architect Bencini. My dear architect: given that these trenches have absolutely no value to me, I would prefer not to lose any of such trenches which cannot be properly viewed by one and all. As to the tapestries, there is always a solution: buying additional property, putting them on show in some hall which can either be built or hired or whatever, BUT there is always a solution. But losing the trenches is a one time caper only. And I'd rather not be the one and only architect who will have his name entrenched accusing him of destroying national heritage (for all that these trenches are worth). Understand the idea, perit?
Eric Soames
Sep 8th 2008, 11:27
'The Foundation'; stubbornly sticking to its guns in the face of common sense and well-reasoned arguments it seems.
Kevin Zammit
Sep 8th 2008, 09:42
"what is more important - losing a few metres of sewage trenches that run around St John's street or exhibiting the largest collection of Flemish tapestries in the world"
Both M. Bencini. The tapestries can be exhibited somewhere else ... or is this, as the norm in Malta, a question of control?
I'm sure that on a 4x4 island nothing is really that far away ...