Palace Square to be inaugurated on December 6
Work on the rehabilitation of St George Square (also known as Palace Square) in Valletta has been almost completed and the square will be inaugurated on December 6.
Resources Minister George Pullicino said there will be a week-long programme of activities between December 6 and 12 to mark the event. The inauguration will feature an acrobatic display choreographed by Jochen Schweizer, a German artist who was also responsible for the celebrations to mark the restoration of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and performances in Terminal 2 in Munich, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Rockefeller Centre in New York.
The following days will see historical re-enactments, concerts, parades and fire juggling displays on the square. A 'feast of Maltese quality wines' will be held on December 11 and 12 featuring most of Malta's wine makers.
The project, launched in June, included repaving and the installation of new lighting and water fixtures. The fixtures have been designed in a way which will not interfere with the holding of parades in the square.
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Anthony Pace Gouder
Nov 22nd 2009, 13:01
Regrettfully ,this project has failed to fullfill its real concept , that of providing a precious underground parking . Had this been undertaken ,excavation works would probably have been still in progress to-day . Amazingly , THAT SMALL underground passage scrapped this desperately needed FACILITY !
The Sette Giungio Memorial was the only Focal Point to this Magnificent Square approaching from Republic Street.. NOW it looks bleak ,empty and bare , and nothing to attract strollers to go further along its whole length . Pity that the shady trees have also been removed . All true Nationalists should cherish and be proud of this memorial and truly respect the 4 Maltese who died.Still , some rather many stupidly branded it a Labour shrine...?..... and were glad of its removal! !!!!
As already commented , the events in 1919 initiated the road to Malta"s Sovereignity .
ps . Although expenditure has been cut down , the planned celebrations are superfluous . Just imagine what celebration would have been IN PROPORTION for an Airport or a new road Inaguration. It would have been a THOUSAND TIMES grander.
victor pulis
Nov 22nd 2009, 08:05
Jochen Schweizer, a German artist was also responsible for the celebrations to mark the restoration of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and performances in Terminal 2 in Munich, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Rockefeller Centre in New York.
How much is he charging?
Palace square does not exactly rank with the sites mentioned above.
Stephen Borg Cardona
Nov 22nd 2009, 04:28
Walked by to have a look last Tuesday, nice job, pity about he illegally parked cars dripping oil allover !
A. Borg
Nov 21st 2009, 23:34
Ma nafx imma hawn Malta nifirhu b'kollox! Dan kollu se jsir ghax irrangajna pjazza? Mela jekk nirbhu t-tazza tad-dinja x'naghmlu? Naghmlu sena niccelebraw!
Joe Vella
Nov 21st 2009, 20:37
@ D Mifsud
I am sure the 2500 workers and their families would agree with you. One thing that this Government never find time is for hollow and empty words like those of Joseph Muscat and the Gloom and Doom Crowd.
Franco Farrugia
Nov 21st 2009, 17:55
A job well done, and done on time. Hopefully, the festivities of inauguration will be beautiful, yet commensurate without any extra expenses. Let the Minister also remember that he also has Animals and animal-welfare in his remit and that animals are languishing, here in Malta. Enough said.
paul mizzi
Nov 21st 2009, 17:53
The project also included the sad (great for many) removal of the Sette Giugno Monument, the masterpiece by the late Anton Agius from the Square.
Is anyone responsible, answering Victor Laiviera's questions?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091006/letters/where-is-the-sette-giugno-monument
DMifsud
Nov 21st 2009, 16:46
@Julian Caruana
The government always finds money for festivities, ceremonies etc... these seem to be no problem.
T Mifsud
Nov 21st 2009, 16:16
Well Done!
Please install CCTV to monitor the street furniture, not the people! I do no want to read about the square next on the Times reporting missing LED lights, stolen solar panels or oil on the floor.
Victor Laiviera
Nov 21st 2009, 16:10
Whatever happend to the Sette Giugno Monument?
Why has it been removed from the Square?
Where is it stored at the moment?
Where and when (if ever) will it be erected again?
c. camilleri
Nov 21st 2009, 15:43
Well done. It is beautiful. This is an addition to the Govt's achievements which have changed not only Valletta but all l Malta.
Duncan Bartolo
Nov 21st 2009, 14:50
This is a very nice project indeed, these projects make our squares identical to other squares in Europe thus without any identity. Where is the Grand Monument commemorating the 7th of June going to be placed?
Was this project done, to make us forget this important date in our history - the beginning of our Independence, Freedom and our walk in Europe.
julian caruana
Nov 21st 2009, 14:32
Well done for finishing in time,
I hope the celebrations will not cost more than the square itself. I feel sometimes ministers are competing amongst themselves on who is going to bring the best and most EXPENSIVE artist for their celebrations.
Can we really afford such extravagance in times likes these with the gov squeezing every penny in tax that he can
Stephen Farrugia
Nov 21st 2009, 13:43
When you finish the square, keep working on the surrounding buildings. Like BOV, the umbrellas, the extra rooms on the roofs and many other details.
Anyway, well done.