Vittoriosa's old entrance to be given new look

Franco Sciberras

Jul 17th 2011, 06:48

Well Done - we should be restoring the bastions not reducing them. An archway at least re-creates the impression of the original defences.

I wish the same could be sage of Valletta City "Gate". The only saving element in Piano's project for that particular entrance is that when, after a couple of lifetimes have passed and PIano is forgotten, we can always rebuild a gate that actually looks like a gate for a medieval city. I am sure that the Knights' legacy in Malta will overcome Piano's.

Astrid Vella

Jul 17th 2011, 03:04

@ Joseph Camilleri: you claim that rebuilding the previous City Gate (Porta San Giorgio) in Valletta would be a pastiche. You also talk of two weights and two measures. Well doesn't it strike you as funny how all the establishment hailed the rebuilding of Fprt Manoel Chapel and the Holy Family church at Pinto Waterfront as masterpieces, and yet rebuilding City Gate is a pastiche!

Talk of two weights and two measures!

j brincat

Jul 16th 2011, 20:55

And we had to spend millions to bring in R Piano for a roofless theatre and gap in the wall!

(jb)

Mr Carmel Pule'

Jul 16th 2011, 20:44

Please do not give Vittoriosa's old entrance a new look, as Piano decided for Valletta bastions. Damned stupid decision.

Mr Carmel Pule'

Jul 16th 2011, 20:42

Nice arch , but I would have put in a dowel, in each separating line between each segment stone ensuring that they will never slip.
There are a few segment stones slipping in the central arch as one leaves Qormi water channel to enter Marsasportground. The water leakage from up top has eroded the mortar in between the segment stones and are now lowering themselves till they fall and the arch will not longer be refered to as an arch but a lot od rubble stone. Now that the September floods are with us , the Qormi Council might take heed of my words. as most of the floodwater in central Malta goes under those arches.
Tp All civil protection units, Governemnt and Qormi council. September is Coming, keep the Millenia and Aldo Moro Bridges clean and when it rains keep people and machines standby all night to keep that bottlenech free from debris , restricting the floodwater to Menqa! to the detriment of Marsa and Qormi. Arches in floodwater channels must not only look pretty but must be kept clear od debris to let the floodwater through and keep the inhabitants with their minds at rest. The architect 40 years ago should have never constructed, Aldo Moro Floodwater Gallery and the Albert Town Bridge with 48 plus 12 column standing in the flowing floodwater. He should have been, shot, hanged and quartered , for all the Qormi Marsa floods in recent years were his stupid fault.

Mr Carmel Pule'

Jul 16th 2011, 20:41

Nice arch , but I would have put in a dowel, in each separating line between each segment stone ensuring that they will never slip.
There are a few segment stones slipping in the central arch as one leaves Qormi water channel to enter Marsasportground. The water leakage from up top has eroded the mortar in between the segment stones and are now lowering themselves till they fall and the arch will not longer be refered to as an arch but a lot od rubble stone. Now that the September floods are with us , the Qormi Council might take heed of my words. as most of the floodwater in central Malta goes under those arches.
Tp All civil protection units, Governemnt and Qormi council. September is Coming, keep the Millenia and Aldo Moro Bridges clean and when it rains keep people and machines standby all night to keep that bottlenech free from debris , restricting the floodwater to Menqa! to the detriment of Marsa and Qormi. Arches in floodwater channels must not only look pretty but must be kept clear od debris to let the floodwater through and keep the inhabitants with their minds at rest. The architect 40 years ago should have never constructed, Aldo Moro Floodwater Gallery and the Albert Town Bridge with 48 plus 12 column standing in the flowing floodwater. He should have been, shot, hanged and quartered , for all the Qormi Marsa floods in recent years were his stupid fault.

patrick farrugia

Jul 16th 2011, 16:54

Congratulations to whoever came up with the idea to restore the gap in the Vittoriosa bastions. I am sure that whoever came up with this idea was not a world renowned architect, as otherwise he would surely have widened the gap in order to 'welcome' more people into Vittoriosa.

If whoever came up with this idea was entrusted with the Valletta City Gate project, I am sure that we would not have ended up with the mess that City 'Gate' is going to be!

Patrick Scicluna

Jul 16th 2011, 16:42

As a resident this is excellent news from our council and the goverment......but where is the parking project ???????

David Darmanin

Jul 16th 2011, 15:06

I wish I could say this is good news. They made a total mess out of the reconstruction of the main gate as there was clearly no project management. Let us hope the restoration unit/MRRA learn from their previous mistakes on this one so as not to let business owners and residents in the area suffer needlessly.

Mr FRANS H SAID

Jul 16th 2011, 14:58

This is by the same government that breached the Valletta bastions. How can this Govt use two weights and measures? In Valletta we remove a gate that was made by a previous PN and in Vittoriosa we repair previous mistakes.

Once again, Austin Gatt should resign for the disaster he has caused in Malta

K. Vella

Jul 16th 2011, 13:44

Qed nara Malta tinbidel....pero ghal ahjar u iktar attraenti.

The Cottonera area is getting a well deserved investment.

Reggie Aquilina

Jul 16th 2011, 13:38

What I would suggest is that a monument for the Grandmaster La Valette would be sited on the grounds of the new entrance. When you read the history of the Great Siege it is really breathtaking and epic - it is such a pity that nothing has ever been done to commemorate in a great way this event. One specific event that comes to mind is when in August 1565 the Castille bastion was breached and I quote Wikipedia:

''Bradford's account of the climax of the siege has a mine exploding with a huge blast, breaching the town walls and causing stone and dust to fall into the ditch, with the Turks charging even as the debris was still falling. He also has the 70-year old de Valette saving the day by leading towards the Turks some hundred troops that had been waiting in the Piazza of Birgu. Balbi, in his diary entry for 20 August, says only that de Valette was told the Turks were within the walls; the Grand Master ran to "the threatened post where his presence worked wonders. Sword in hand, he remained at the most dangerous place until the Turks retired."

I think this specific event of La Vallette rallying his troops and Maltese at the most difficult hour of Malta would be a great setting for a monument placed somewhere on the green lawn of the project near the entrance.
One may comment that La Vallette was a harsh man but the fact is that he refused to abandon Birgu and retreat to fort St.Angelo as he was adviced. He did this because he felt it was unfair to abandon the Maltese to the Turks' vengeance. I think this man deserves our acknowledgement and I believe it would also be a good tourist attraction

Frank Portelli 2BFRANK

Jul 16th 2011, 13:28

Well done to all involved and especially to Stephen Spiteri and Minister George Pullicino


Frank Portelli

Mr ray borg

Jul 16th 2011, 13:25

Maltese idea is far much better then Piano, wish city gate was in our own hands

Louis Gialanze

Jul 16th 2011, 13:24

A big WELL DONE to whoever is responsible for this project and the rehabilitation of No1 Dock area in Cospicua. When fully regenerated, Cottonera shall again become a niche in maltese history for all to appreciate and enjoy.

Mr Victor Laiviera

Jul 16th 2011, 12:59

How Ironic! Where we had a gate at Valletta, we will now have a gap.

And where we had a gap, we will now have an arch, possibly a gate.

Mur ifhem!

Michael Scicluna

Jul 16th 2011, 12:15

A well deserved action to re vamp the Gate at the entrance to Citta Vittoriosa. Not a piano idea at that.
Quote Mr Pullicino said the new project will enable the Maltese and tourists to better appreciate the bastions. Families will also be able to enjoy the space created when the ditch is re-excavated. Not the same can be said to the entrance to the Citta de L' Vallette. Who knows maybe in years to come someone might decide to do likewise. That's life. Love Where You Live and Keep Malta Tidy.