Arriva will be collaborating with conservation group Din l-Art Ħelwa on a project to conserve the chapel in Ħal Millieri, limits of Zurrieq and Mqabba.
Commercial Manager Thomas Dimech met with DLĦ CEO Simone Mizzi; George Mangion, the chapel's warden and curator and DHL council member Maria Grazia Cassar , who is responsible for restoration, at the Chapel, where the sponsorship was officialised during a small ceremony.
"As a corporate citizen of the Maltese Islands, Arriva believes it has a duty to help in conserving these gems, that are not only part of our history but indeed among our richest treasures as Maltese citizens. Arriva is extremley glad to be able to support with Din l-Art Ħelwa on this project and to be associated with the beautiful and quite unique chapel here at Ħal Millieri," Mr Dimech said.
The chapel, dedicated to the Annunciation is situated in the old village of Casal Millieri, which lies between Zurrieq, Qrendi, Mqabba and Kirkop.
This village was first documented in 1419 and its origins date back to Roman and possibly pre-historic times. The chapel was consecrated in around 1480 on the site of an earlier chapel built in the thirteenth century, and is a typical example of a Maltese medieval church.
The paintings in the chapel of the Annunciation are unique and executed in the fresco technique. Their style and the angular Gothic letters of their inscriptions date them to the middle of the fifteenth century. The frescoes cover all the interior walls of the chapel except the apse, and depict a number of saints such as Nicholas, Andrew, James, Lawrence, Vincent, John, Paul, Augustine, Blaise, Agatha and Leonard. St George appears twice riding a horse and slaying a dragon.
Din l-Art Helwa began cleaning the chapel in February 1968 and 13 truckloads of rubble and debris were removed.
The current conservation project comprises the laying down of waterproof membrane on the chapel's roof. This with the aim of eliminating water leaks which are ruining the unique frescoes in the chapel.
The second part of the project involves the plastering of the outer walls of the chapel, which have suffered considerable erosion due to the strong winds and elements that regularly hit the area. The plastering will stop the erosion and help retain the original medival stone that the chapel is built with.
"We are glad for the help and collaboration Arriva is offering us on this project," Ms Mizzi said.