Historic Tal-Virtù chapel restored

A historic chapel at Tal-Virtù which had been in danger of collapse and had even been used by satanists, has been lovingly restored by a contractor who bought the land on which it lies.

The 500-year-old Santa Marija Tal-Virtù chapel on Thursday hosted its first Mass in 70 years - a celebration of a project which has saved it from destruction.

Ownership of the chapel passed through the hands of many landowners over generations, but none of them bothered much with it and it eventually became dilapidated.

While the stonework deteriorated and gaping fissures developed on its dome, overturned crucifixes were carved in the walls and painted in black over the altar.

But the chapel started a new chapter when the parcel of land was bought by contractor Charles Mangion and his family about three years ago.

"When I saw the state it was in, I immediately decided to use my resources to restore it to its pristine state. After all, since I work in the field, I could not pass up the opportunity to work on a place with such fascintating architecture," he said.

The gaping fissures snaking along the dome and walls have been sealed and painted over in light blue and beige.

The altar, which is the original one, has been gilded and adorned with white lace and silverware.

Moreover, the crypt, which was used as a place of worship 2,000 years ago, has whitewashed with a mixture or lime and fibre to allow the stone to breath.

A statue of Christ the King has been mounted on top of the dome and can be seen over a wide area - the chapel is sited on one of the highest points in Malta. The statue recalls the original which survives at the Seminary nearby.

Mr Mangion said his next challenge is to restore the nearby Palazzo Tal-Virtù, which is about 100 years old and is situated on the same land. He is currently awaiting the go-ahead from the planning authority.