The BOV Sta Caterina d'Italia main cupola project was officially inaugurated today to coincide with the feast of the patron saint.
In March 2009, Bank of Valletta had agreed to fully finance the cost of restoration of the main cupola as part of its commitment towards the community.
The Resources Ministry provided the scaffolding and workers from the Restoration Unit to do the work. They repaired the roof, regilded the cupola decorations and cleaned the paintings.
The Church of Sta Caterina d'Italia was designed by Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar for the Italian Knights.
It adjoins the Auberge d'Italie and the church is still used today by the Italian community.
Built in September 1572, it has undergone extensive external and internal restoration during the last 10 years.
Following the restoration of its exterior in 2003, the interior remained in a bad state of repair.
The decorations of the cupola suffered powdering and an extensive loss of the pictorial layer and the church endured centuries of exposure to the natural elements including rainwater and siesmic activity together with damage relating to the war.
The cupola is divided into eight segments by ribs that descend from the apex of the lantern and frame the large medallions that characterise the mural decorations that depict scenes from the life of St Catherine, attributed to the Italian baroque artist Mattia Preti who was also responsible for the transformation of the interior of St John's Co-Cathedral.
The painstaking restoration works were entrusted to internationally acclaimed Italian company Giuseppe Mantella Restauri who have extensive experience in Malta having worked at St John's Co-Cathedral.
Bank of Valletta CEO Tonio Depasquale said that the latest conservation and restoration practises were employed to ensure that this priceless part of Malta's heritage is preserved for future generations.
Resources Minister George Pullicino said that the necessary work was also carried out on the roof of the sacristy and its interior and electricity systems have been renewed.
Ministry personnel restored the side of the chapel on Merchants Street side with the government investing more than €65,000 in the project, one of 30 being carried out at Valletta.