Basement is no crypt, says heritage watchdog

The controversial basement of Casa Lanfreducci in Valletta is not a burial crypt but “just a normal basement”, according to cultural heritage superintendent Anthony Pace.

The basement, which made headlines in January, had been used as a barber shop and bar in the 1990s, Mr Pace said when contacted.

There was only one room, not belonging to Casa Lanfreducci, which seemed to have a link with the adjacent church and may have been used as a burial crypt, he said.

However, this had been extensively damaged – the adjacent room had been levelled off, probably around the 1990s, to bring in line the two houses which were built on a slope, Mr Pace explained.

Investigations carried out by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage identified this room as being located directly beneath the adjacent sacristy of the church of Our Lady of Victory. The room originally formed part of the burial crypt of the church.

It did not belong to Casa Lanfreducci but entry was gained through the lower ground floor of the house, the superintendence said.

It had recommended to the planning authority that only this particular room, and not the entire lower ground floor, be excluded from any proposed development.

In January, the Infrastructure Ministry had said the government’s application to use the underground spaces under Casa Lanfreducci as backstage facilities for Renzo Piano’s roofless theatre fully respected the building’s historical and architectural context.

The superintendence has also recommended that access to this room be blocked from Casa Lanfreducci, so that the space could be re-annexed to the church. A full public report of the investigations would be available at a later date, Mr Pace said. Mr Pace was reacting to a statement by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar welcoming a supposed announcement by the superintendence confirming the contrary.

The superintendent was quick to correct the environmental NGO’s mistake in a statement sent a few hours later, saying the basement was not a crypt.

In a second statement, FAA said it was reassuring that strong measures were planned to protect the part of the basement that originally formed part of the crypt but disappointing that the “beautiful architecture” of the rest of the basement risked being reduced to showers and toilets.

“FAA maintains that projects, especially those in heritage sites, should not start before all the necessary studies are carried out,” it said .

It called on the authorities to provide sufficient funding and staff to the superintendence and the Faculty of Architecture to enable them to map out Valletta’s unique underground features and draw up a restoration and rehabilitation plan to preserve and add value to the city’s heritage.

Controversy on Casa Lanfreducci erupted in January when it was revealed that a basement linked to the crypt of the church was being excavated to be connected with the proposed open-air theatre.

The FAA had issued photos showing human remains found years ago in the basement, which, it said, supported the claim the basement was a burial ground.

However, the government re­mained unconvinced and a number of studies were conducted.