Mepa approves facelift for St George's Square
Plans include replacement of concrete tiles
The long-awaited facelift of Valletta's St George's Square has been given the planning permission, paving the way for the area to become car free.
The plans include replacing the concrete tiles, which date back to the 1970s, with lava slabs, and installing water jets in the middle of the piazza.
The Sette Giugnio monument will be moved slightly further up, centring it at the top of the site.
The development application was approved yesterday during a Malta Environment and Planning Authority board meeting.
The square currently has the dubious honour of serving as an open-air car park with 100 spaces mainly for use by MPs. However, it will become a pedestrian-only zone.
The inbuilt water jets will be a modern version of the original fountain that was built in the square by the Knights of St John. During the 19th century, the fountain was moved to St Philip's Garden in Floriana.
St George's Square has been used a parade ground since the 19th century and was the site of several historic events including the June 7, 1919 uprising and the presentation of the George Cross in 1942.