According to tradition, a secret passageway provided escape from the Citadel to the Capuchins’ Convent on the outskirts of Victoria.

The passageway had been the subject of a parliamentary question for the public instruction minister in May 1925, who dismissed it as mere tradition with no sound historic background, the project leader of ongoing restoration works at the Citadel, John Cremona, said.

The passageway – if it exists – remains undiscovered but ongoing excavation work is being constantly monitored by archaeological supervisors of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

Archaeological deposits, such as pottery fragments and rock or manmade features, are studied, recorded and retrieved or preserved on site.

The major discovery during the restoration of the fortifications was the original passageway, dating to the 17th century, leading to the main entrance of the Citadel, which will be incorporated in the new gateway design.

Restoring the main gate formed part of the bastions’ project completed at the end of last year but it was a second project that uncovered the original passageway leading to this entrance.

The restoration of the Citadel involves two EU co-funded projects.

The ERDF 039 project, which funds the rehabilitation of historic fortifications across Malta and Gozo, involved restoring the bastion walls and consolidating the underlying bedrock. This was done by the Restoration Directorate within the Culture Ministry.

The restoration of the Citadel bastions started in 2009 and was completed by December 2013 at a cost of about €5 million.

The other project, which started in March and is planned to be completed by next June, falls within the framework of ERDF 246, and is themed Implementation of the Citadel Masterplan Recommendations.

Estimated to cost €14 million, the project led to the discovery of the old main passageway.

It involves, among other things, the restoration of historic building facades within the fortified city that will cost about €400,000.

The cathedral’s facade, vestry and chapter hall, St Joseph chapel, the Folklore Museum and the medieval arches have been restored already, but work is still needed on the law courts, governor’s palace, old prisons, Natural History Museum and the side of the cathedral church.

Ongoing work

• Restoration of disused reservoirs that will be turned into a visitors’ centre.
• Installation of glass door to close breach in bastion walls.
• Restoration of facades.
• Consolidation of the Citadel ruins.
• Reconstruction of paths, piazza and streets.
• Reconstruction of semi-ruined building into a restoration workshop.
• Upgrading the ditch.
• Implementing an energy-efficient lighting system.
• Revival of a grand period house.
• Installation of chair-lifts and platforms.