Valletta's true character

Ever since the war, Malta has waited for a new opera house that would attract the best singers as in the past. What we are being given instead is a new Parliament building that nobody other than the politicians want and a useless conversion of the old...

Ever since the war, Malta has waited for a new opera house that would attract the best singers as in the past. What we are being given instead is a new Parliament building that nobody other than the politicians want and a useless conversion of the old opera house for all the reasons put forward by previous letters and articles.

Fort St Elmo and Auberge de Baviere are crying out to be put to good use.

If the opera house were to be restored to Barry's magnificent design, nobody could possibly object and the money saved could be spent on replacing the ugly arcades and entrance and redesigning that wonderful space. What an opportunity!

I cannot imagine how Renzo Piano's design can be thought to be a fitting welcome to a beautiful baroque city.

It will be quite out of place. His designs look great in a modern setting as in Berlin with other modern buildings but surely not here.

Please do not ruin the character of Valletta.

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