Frank Salt Real Estate held two Valletta heritage lectures in the Aula Magna of the Old University building in St Paul Street.
The lectures were delivered by Emanuel Buttigieg, who took the audience back to the time of the Knights and explored how the harbour landscape changed over the years, and by Antoine Zammit, who explained how Valletta’s urban fabric may be envisaged in order for it to be a living example of true urban regeneration.
The first lecture showed how the Order of St John instigated a fundamental transformation of the Grand Harbour landscape from one of barren emptiness, save for the small medieval outpost of Vittoriosa, to a mighty fortified conurbation.
The amalgamation of the natural and the man-made landscape created an impressive ‘floating stage’, upon which the Order could put on shows of power and glory.
The Grand Harbour was the gateway to the island of the Hospitallers. The lecture provided a glimpse into the majesty, magnificence and good taste of the rituals held in the Grand Harbour of the Hospitallers.
Dr Zammit, who explored numerous ways to keep a city alive and relevant to its citizens and visitors, focused on adaptive reuse strategies, for which Valletta provides an interesting example, not least due to the recent attempts at injecting new life into the city.
Thanks to investments made over the past years, Valletta is becoming ever more attractive. In line with this, the company has stepped up its efforts to raise awareness of the city’s rich heritage.
“People who take an interest in buying a property in Valletta do so for much more than brick and mortar,” said managing director Joseph Lupi. “They understand the core value of being part of this magical place. They are intrigued by its ornate architecture, rich history yet modern cosmopolitan vibe. They know that taking up residence in Valletta is not just about buying a home or property, but taking up a lifestyle.”
To find out more about forthcoming lectures and to register, visit www.franksalt.com.mt/vallettaheritage or www.vallettaheritage.com.