Historic Tal-Virtù chapel restored

Anthony M. Brincat

Oct 26th 2009, 18:07

Congratulations to Mr Charles Mangion for restoring this gem. May other "private hands" follow his example. I know of other chapels which belong to private individuals, but unfortunately are not well cared of and their condition is deteriorating. Incidentally the Tal-Virtu chapel is not 500 years old. Although a chapel had existed there since 1438, the present edifice was built in rotunda form between the years 1717-1731 by Master-mason Petruzzo Debono who may have also been responsible for its design, inspired by Mattia Preti's church of Sarria in Floriana. Sculptors Benedetto Saliba and Antonio Fabri worked on its sculptural decoration. Vincenzo Baita painted the titullar altarpiece and there were four other paintings by Enrico Reynaud. In 1901 a statue of Christ the Redeemer, made in Rome, was placed on the dome, but this was too heavy and began to cause structural defects to the dome. It was removed in 1935. The chapel was last used in 1936.

Anna Marie Navarro

Oct 26th 2009, 12:55

@a abela

So many private hands ruined the skyline of our beloved island forever, the fact that the chapel has been lovingly restored by Mr Mangion is a breath of fresh air – Well done. Maybe Mr Mangion would open chapel occasionally for visitors against a nominal fee or permit that grounds would be used for fundraising events for worthy causes occasionally, that way families can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings and chapel. That would be a very noble gesture.

S. Camilleri

Oct 26th 2009, 12:23

@a abela

At least 'private hands' have managed to do what 'public hands' could not manage to do for decades! Thanks Mr. Mangion

a abela

Oct 26th 2009, 02:48

One should be ashamed that such a chapel ended in private hands.

Charles Micallef

Oct 25th 2009, 07:33

Mr Mangion,

How about moving to Forts St Angelo or St Elmo, they are crying our for someone with your flair and immagination?

Roderick Cutajar

Oct 24th 2009, 18:32

Such a piece of news always make me happy. Malta has so much to offer and it's us the people who need to look after the country and preserve it for future generations.

Well done Mr Mangion and may you have success in whatever you do. Also good luck in the restoration of the nearby palace. I urge you to continue in this field and restore other historical landmarks even for a profit. I would be the first one to pay to visit such sites and it would give me great satisfaction for money well spent.

Jesmond Micallef

Oct 24th 2009, 18:14

Prosit tassew Sur Mangion. Salvajt kapella antika sabiha hafna. Jiena wiehed min dawk il Maltin li nemmen li Knejjes u Kappelli antiki Maltin huma importanti daqs it tempji Neolitici li hemm fuq dawn il Gzejjer. Il gzejjer Maltin min dejjem kienu gzejjer ta twemin. Fejn hemm it twemin, hemm ic civilita !!! Inti ghadhekk kif salvajt evidenza ta dan.

It tempji, il knejjes, u il kappeli Maltin huma wkoll wirt ta arkitetura Maltija.

Bhalla Malti kburi hafna jien nirrangrazjak min qalbi.

Nispera li dan jkun ta ezempju ghall kuntraturi ohrajn.

Clint Muscat

Oct 24th 2009, 17:31

Jien ex-xtudent tas-seminarju, u ta' zghazagh imqarbin li konna, sikwiet konna naqbzu xi cint u nispiccaw fil wied ta hdejn din il-kapella. Biss dejjem konna nibzghu nersqu lejha ghax konna nafu li tintuza mis-satanisti. U forsi ghax minn dejjem kelli gibda ghall-afarjiet tar-religjon vera kienet tigini hniena minn din il-kapella specjalment ghal mod li kienet tigi mzebilha. Kienet vera tistona f'post b'ambjent vera sabih, biswiet skola tal-knisja!

Mal-ahbarjiet Negattivi ta qtil u drogi u kmamar jisplodu... vera fraht b'din l-ahbar! Tinduna li ghad baqa' nies twajjba li lesti jsebbhu l-pajjiz flok ikerrhuh! proset hafna sur Mangion! Nawguralek li bhala kuntrattur tmur tajjeb u taqla hafna aktar flus ghax gietek hniena minn kapella abbandunata.

Proset mill-gdid!

Christopher Farrugia

Oct 24th 2009, 17:07

I commend Mr Mangion on taking on such a task.

The Santa Marija chapel is Tal-Virtù's landmark and one cannot feel but proud at this restoration.

One certainly hopes that the chapel can be used again for what it was meant to serve.

G Darmanin

Oct 24th 2009, 17:01

Well done. Let's hope other contractors follow the same example and not always think of only making more money! If all local contractors/developers agree to restore only one historical place each, our heritage will be safeguarded, and their contribution will surely be appreciated.

Reuben Gauci

Oct 24th 2009, 16:54

Conserving Malta's heritage is the heroism of our time. I wish I had the funds to be such a hero myself :) Well Done to Mr Mangion!

Chris Ebejer

Oct 24th 2009, 13:27

Any restoration initiative from behalf of contractors the likes of Mr Mangion should be highly commended! It is about time that local contractors direct their energies on restoring our numerable historical buildings rather brutalizing Malta with suffocating concrete boxes!

Raymond Sammut

Oct 24th 2009, 12:53

Hemm hafna kappelli ta' signifiganza storika li jinhtiegilhom ir-restawraw. Kappella li kont sikwiet immur mixja biex nasal hdejha u noqghod ftit hemm nara l-veduta hija dik tas-Salib ta' l-Gholja; mhux il-boghod hafna mil tal-Virtu'. Dik, miskina, dejjem kienet tkun imsakkra u qiesha abbandunata.

A number of restored chapels around the island, most of which would be clustered in the vicinity of Rabat, could be placed under management. For a reasonable fee, interested parties could be taken for a "tour of the chapels" accompanied by someone well versed in their history, artwork, and architecture. One could then call such an excursion the chapels experience, I suppose.

joseph zammit

Oct 24th 2009, 12:46

proset u grazzi mill qalb ,minn post ta misthija ha lura d dinjita u lilek imliek bil gieh

Vincent Borg

Oct 24th 2009, 12:38

Great Job must not only goes to Mr. Mangion, but also to all the outstanding, dedicated workforce involved to complete such a wonder.

Surely after such a professional job, the Planning Authority will grant the necessary permits in the very near future.

Once again PROSIT.

E. Azzopardi

Oct 24th 2009, 12:24

Excellent and well done. Mr Mangion. This is what I call "national pride".
Well, there is always a first time and the citizens of this country hope and pray that others, espcially those calling themselves "contractors" will follow suit and emulate this true Maltese gentleman, instead of causing damage to nearby buildings. We have had quite a few instances in the past.
Well, perhaps Mr Mangion can give the other contractors some good training (yes, many need good training as they will muck it all up) especially to those with a big mouth. They them owe it to the country but then not all of us know what "national pride" is.
Again, Malta is very proud of Mr Mangion and we thank you sincerely for it. God bless you .

Msciberras

Oct 24th 2009, 11:55

PROSIT SUR CHARLES MANGION

Denis Catania

Oct 24th 2009, 11:02

We need more people like Charles Mangion in Malta. Great job.

C. Bartolo

Oct 24th 2009, 10:58

Prosit for the work carried out and especially for taking the initiative to restore the chapel and the Palazzo in the near future. Maybe other contractors could follow in your footsteps and restore some other heritage sites rather than be only interested pulling down places with character and style and replacing them with miniature boxes or worse still be out to "develope" green areas (possibly with the blessing of some "divine" authority!

CLIFFORD VELLA

Oct 24th 2009, 10:55

WELL DONE MR MANGION, VERY GOOD JOB. I HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN MALTA LIKE THIS PERSON.

Charles Micallef

Oct 24th 2009, 10:44

What a marvellous piece of restoration by a caring individual......Well Done

Ronald zammit

Oct 24th 2009, 10:42

Well done Mr & Ms Mangion! Good work, hopefully you will serve as an example to other people in similar positions to embark on similar projects.