Tuesday, 6th January 2009 - 12:02CET
Castille trees removed - façade fully revealed for the first time in generations
The splendid façade of the Auberge de Castille in Valletta has been revealed in all its glory following the removal of all trees that, for generations, hid parts of its baroque detail.
The trees on the left of the building were removed some weeks ago after damage caused by a storm, while workers removed the remaining trees early this morning.
The government has already announced plans to clean up the façade. The façade of the adjoining Palazzo Parisio, which houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was cleaned a few years ago.
The auberge, which originally only had a ground floor, is thought to have been designed by Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar in 1574 but it was later remodelled under Grand Master Pinto in 1744 – his symbol, the crescent moon, can be seen on the door and elsewhere in the building.
During the French occupation of Malta the building housed the Commission for National Property. It was later used by the British forces and a signalling station was installed on the roof in 1889.
The St Paul Street side of the building was hit by aerial bombing in the second world war but the façade survived and the building was restored.
It has housed the Office of the Prime Minister since 1972.
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Comments
The trees there provided a much needed breath of fresh air in a limestone/concrete jungle. And provided much needed shade in the summer months. The more lacking we are of trees it seems, we have a penchant for removing the few we have.
And last but not least, its not the tourists who make a bordello. The bordello goes on inside the walls. The trees served to shield it from public view!
and as a footnote how much did this brainwave cost our pockets?
You're 100% right.
Furthermore I do not believe that the trees were damaged by the storm. They've been standing there for ages..why now?. Of course I didn't visit castille to verify the fact myself after the storm.Why should these trees be removed as they stood there for generations (as the title suggests).
However this seems to be a naive subject. If you want to clear the trees then go on even though I do not agree with it. Why should we make ado about nothing.
As to greenery vs urban ratio - i am sure that this tiny island lacks greenery compared to other European small countries. We're just a massive big block of limestone!.
Back again to Castille, can't still understand why trees should be removed. Maybe to show the grandeur of Castille palace? I've seen palaces abroad - castille would just come close to the tea house at the back garden - with all the respect. I personally think the trees actually beautify the areas. Anyhow that my humble opinion.
In another article that Valletta will be greener says that trees in front of Castille where damaged by strong wind and had a touch of disease besides the previous drumming to their doom of how they where damaging the buildings and ruining the beauty of Castille façade brrrrr in other words they were SO scary and such an insult to the cultured individual……..probably they would be chopped up to be placed in the fire places within the aubergue to kill the bugs - hope this helps
The environment is made of buildings as much as it is made up of trees and an ugly building is a bad as an out-of-place tree. The objective is to reach harmony between both and the human being.
Removing trees does not necessarily mean removing greenery - One good example of this harmony would be Pisa' Piazza del Duomo home to the leaning tower.
I am no Latin scholar, but every time I have seen that quote used, it was "fecerunt".
And no - I was referring to those who cut down two or three beutiful, maturte trees so that we can admire some more stonework - as if if haven't enough already!
sorry for the inconvinience... ghandek ragun....
I quote from today's Times: "He explained that the decision to remove the trees was taken after one of them was damaged by wind and another was showing symptoms of disease."
Incidentally all you lovers of greenery, no need to despair, 40 new trees will be planted in Valletta, so don't tear your hair out in despair just yet.
As for Manwel Dimech, he certainly merits a place of honour in our capital, but it should not be in front of Castille. He was placed in front of Castille for political reasons, mainly Mintoff had turned him into a sort of socialist icon, something which he would not have been too happy with. La Valette was a foreign artistocrat, fine, but he was the founder and city is named after him. So he deserves to have a statue in this prime position.
I am repeating my post for you in order to give you a second chance at seeing my tongue in my cheek! incredibly you took me seriously. Sir if you didn't realise that I was ojking then you need more than fresh air!
I must agree with Francois Bulteel. this morning I walked past Castille and I nearly suffocated with the lack of fresh air. Birds were falling from the sky and tourists were rolling about on the ground in spasms of breathlessness.I had to run to the upper baracca gardens to get my breath back!
FECIT not fecerunt Barberini.... only he could talk in the plural for himself..... ;-)
apart from this, i assume you were referring to those who had planted the trees in the first place, right?
...... but I want to know where they've be relocated please.
Does anybody know ?
I agree with you completely, except that we should not forget Nerik Mizzi, who himself was a true patriot respected by everyone (in case people have a short memory, they should read what Dom Mintoff said about him in his Parliamentary speech just after Mizzi's demise).
For some people, Dimech was the Maltese Che Guevara, a personality who was more important to our history than St. Paul himself - otherwise, they would not get so offended if Dimech's statue was put by the side on par with Borg Olivier and others.
And yes, we are proud of La Vallette. If it wasnt due to his foresight and leadership, we would have fallen into Ottoman hands.
Incidentally I agree that Castille looks better now . Greenery is beautiful but in the right place and where its not liable to cause damage . Insinuations ,hints and sarcasm don't hold much water really . Maturity certainly does .
I never mentioned damage to the foundations, did I? In that case, I fully agree that trees must be removed.
@K Serracino
Now THAT's a good suggestion! The roundabout is seriously out of place.
Hatred towards Dimech? I never said we should REMOVE the Dimech Statue. My whole point was about symmetry. I will re-quote my own post:
"so we'd have a semi-circle of statues including those of Boffa, Borg Olivier, Dimech, and the 'new one', all facing the piazza and Castille".
When you do, kindly quote me correctly!
And just for the record, I personally would prefer a statue of Girolamo Cassar, whom I mentioned in my earlier post.
They said they wanted to remove the trees - and they DID!
They said they will relocate Parliament to to the old theatre site and they WILL.!
Consultation? My foot! Never mind...we will remember...
Do you still want to show your hatred towards Manwel Dimech, a patriot, who was exiled and died in exile because he wanted the Maltese people to learn to lead themselves and not be led by others?
And why do you want to put a statue of De Valette when he considered Maltese people as low-down common people with whom the knights should not mix so much so that they had specific areas into which Maltese people were not allowed? They had the collacchio in Vittoriosa, an area reserved for them. That's how they treated the Maltese people and they still find foreigners lackeys till this very day! Unbelievable!
Re trees, how about planting some orange trees and keeping them pruned? They will give some greenery, won't obstruct the building, and provide a nice orange blossom smell when flowering and the fruit can be distributed to old peoples homes, institutes, hospital patients etc.
@ doris varrazzo
Some of you are simply pointless... why change the natural state of Valletta and make it feel like a jungle with trees, you simply go to Valletta to appreciate its architectural status and its narrow streets but not for sure trees.... and i'm sure if you have something you REALLY appreciate you don't put it behind a tree...
You can always try to plant a tree inside your house to breathe good air and appreciate every leaf better!
Is it easier to replant a tree or move the building ? ......and what if someone decided to plant a tree smack in the middle of your (home) facade ?......if you think that the building's foundation enjoy the spreading of the roots, then try it !
I agree with exposing our works of art further...next one should be St.John's....and plant more trees where appropriate.
To remove Manwel Dimech,a patriot would mean moving the statue's of lesser mortals too.
Putting La Vallette in Castille would certainly not please a lot including the writer. He may have built Valletta,but he was a foreigner who treated and thought of the people of these Islands worse than scum. And you wish to give him further honour?. Tell me you are playing the devil's advocate and you are not being serious.
Now how about some cobbling, pedestrianising the immediate area, commissioning a fountain, remove the Dimech statue and relocate it at the side, include yet another statue or two of La Vallette and better yet of a Maltese Personality , such as architect Girolamo Cassar, who would be excellent seeing as he's been so well-involved in the construction of Valletta (so we'd have a semi-circle of statues including those of Boffa, Borg Olivier, Dimech, and the 'new one', all facing the piazza and Castille, with the fountain and a 'shallow garden' (for lack of the proper term) of hedges and turf right there in front? Maybe a couple of benches. One could also host al fresco art exhibitions there in the summer months? Not the usual tombla of course!
Good riddance, I say. The facade of Castille looks so different now.....and so much better. If anyone's that concerned, go plant a tree at Foresta 2000 and do your bit for the environment.
Is this a GREEN GOVERNMENT or as usaul bla bla bla bla bla...
could see some greenery in front of Castille.
Instead of planting more trees, we always try to remove them, and other countries donate us
to improve our country and others remove them.
One day we will have to travel abroad to enjoy greenery.
Please do your best to save trees.!!!!!!!!!!
Nowhere in the world are the facades of signifant buildings covered with trees. Take a look at some of the most important buildings in Europe for example:
- Palais Garnier in Paris
- Palace of Westminster
- Arc de Triumph
- St Peter's Basilica
- Palace of Versailles
etc
Malta's 'look' and 'feel' is closer to an Arab country, say LIbya, than a European country. Even then, most Arab cities are greener than Malta, including Tripoli. Perhaps Malta would have fitted better in the Arab League than the European Union.
Your comments were very uncalled for.
We understand that the French have a fetish of stealing Maltese culture such as swords, church relics, etc. Now you are here complaining about having to see our treasured architecture....if you want to breath fresh air there is plenty of it on the top of the eiffel tower.
My suggestion to move (and not remove) the Dimech monument was based on the fact that
he should not be the focal point within Castille Place.
Putting La Vallette would satisfy the population in general. Let us not politicise this. Malta's interests comes first before Socialist and Nationalist interests.
It would be more appropriate to replace the Boffa statue with Dimech's. Enrico Mizzi's bust should be transferred in the area too.
In that way, we would have a Castille place with monuments of worthy patriots (La Valette, Borg Olivier, Dimech, and Mizzi) - excluding those alive of course.
i don't think you go to Valletta infront of Auberge de Castille to breath fresh air... there are better places where to breath FRESHER air... its better to appreciate your predicted some stones in their place rather then go for fresh air....
Good decision, nice architecture like the Auberge de Castille can be much more aprreciated now...
Well done indeed.
It's all a matter of perspective : ))
There are no avenues or large open spaces in Valletta. Maybe we should demolish a few buildings to allow for some tree-planting.
And please name one architecturally-significant building in a European country that has its facade covered with trees.
When I visit Major European cities all i notice is avenues and open spaces with GIANT trees and magnificent buildings even on the Mediteranean coast with a SIMILAR climate and rainfall, not to mention the lush parks / gardens to compliment. The tree phobia is very evident when hit the roads and towns of Malta.
An adequate number of strategically placed, well selected indigenous trees would enhance the appearance as well as ecological value of Castille Square without hindering the appreciation of the “splendid façade of the Auberge de Castille”. The middle of Castille Square needs trees that afford cool shade and can be pruned to the desired shape and size.
As far as I am concerned, a square, however majestically built, looks barren (and not cosmopolitan) if it lacks adequate trees and other vegetation.
j'alla min ha din id-decizjoni japplika l-istess kuragg ghas-sigar li qed johonqu lil San Gwann
So, please think before you start making sweeping statements, do some overseas travelling and observe why buildings abroad can be appreciated in all their glory. And politics have nothing to do with the decision to uproot and transfer the trees..
I'm not sure what to make of the whole Arab state comment...
And the tress weren't only ugly because they were overgrown, but because they were out of place. Trees are fine, but not when they're hiding the baroque detail of an architectural masterpiece, especially one of major historical importance. Trees belong in gardens and piazzas, and along boulevards and promenades.
There are plenty of areas which are simply crying out for afforestation but Castille Square is not one of them.
Can you imagine trees in St Peter's Square in the Vatican or in Trafalgar Square or around the Arc de Triomphe?
Why are some green people so fanatical? Trees are beneficial but that does not mean that they should be planted everywhere without any other considerations.
Id rather see the trees.... especially when summer comes. This island has become a concrete jungle.
This wasa an act of pure vandalism. One healthy tree is worth a thousand imposing buildings which only serve to inflate the ego of their occupants.
Having said this one may consider going for planting trees in their place that do not grow into the heights that the present ficus trees have reached. I am certain that a balance would possibly make everyone happy.
Even the trees in front of Castille are beautiful, but they do not justify their presence in front of that magnificent baroque facade. Originally the Knights never planned trees in front of Castille. (and neither in front of St. John's co-cathedral). Only the English planted them there, and we all know that if there's something that the english lack, it is aesthetics and style.
They are masters at other things but, definitely not aesthetics. Now justice has been done with the Knights and with Grandmaster Pinto !
Let us just hope that these trees are not destroyed, but planted elsewhere, where they would still regale us with all their majestic beauty....yes I am both a tree lover and a history passionate.
@ Stephen Florian : Its good that the trees were removed so that tourists cannot just stop there and do a whole bordello in front of Castille. I would go a step further and instruct the Police and the Army not to allow tourists to ride on the cannons in front of Castille and not to stay posing in front of its door and on the stairs. In other countries if you even try to take a photo of a government building they would immediately take your camera or ask you to erase the picture. At least this way that building will get its much deserved respect!
in a country as overgrown as Malta, with hardly any buildings,
removing trees must surely be the best option!