Historic palace clock restored

The Resources Ministry has completed intensive restoration works on the historic 'Pinto Clock' in the Prince Alfred Courtyard of the Palace in Valletta.

The clock was commissioned in 1745 by Grandmaster Manoel Pinto de Foneseca and its mechanism is the work of renowned Maltese clockmaker Gaetano Vella.

The upper turret features four bronze figures, known as jacquemarts which symbolise Turkish slaves striking the clock bells.

The clock has four faces. The middle one shows the hour and the others show the month, day and lunar phase.  Prior to the restoration, the clock had not chimed for many years.

The restoration work was divided into several phases, focused on the mechanism, the bells and the jacquemarts, as well as the structure. The work was carried out by private contractors under the direction of restoration experts of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project and Heritage Malta.

Chief Architect Mireille Fsadi supervised the work. Kenneth Cauchi handled the restoration of the bells and the jacquemarts while Stephen Zammit restored the clock mechanism. Agius Stoneworks worked on the structure of the clock with the Restoration Directorate. A fountain was also restored.

The whole project cost €120,000.

Resources Minister George Pullicino said this was yet another link in a series of restoration projects by his ministry in Valletta. The restoration works include the  bastions, monuments at the Upper Barrakka, the saluting battery, the façade of the Auberge de Castille,  the Palace Square, Victoria Gate and the rebuilding of Biaggio Steps to house an interactive centre on the fortifications.