A dining room in one of the oldest buildings in Marsascala has been opened to the public for the first time to raise funds to restore Villa Apap Bologna.

Perched on a rise across from the parish church, Villa Apap Bologna was one of the first three buildings in central Marsascala, according to event organiser Emanuel Peresso who has been carrying out research about the villa for the past years.

He said the villa was founded by the Noble Lwiġi Manduca around 1855 and was occupied by three families including the Apap Bolognas and the Formosa Gaucis.

Villa Apap Bologna was one of the first three buildings in central Marsascala

In the mid-20th century, the Apap Bolognas donated land to build the church and the villa itself is now under the responsibility of the parish, which is holding a Christmas Village within the premises to raise funds for its upkeep.

Over the past weeks, youths helped restore the Red Room ­ – one of the two dining rooms in the building – in their free time and it was done up the way it used to be when the last occupants lived there, Mr Peresso said.

The site includes a Baroque chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, where Mass is said twice a week. The maids’ quarters are being refurbished by volunteers, as are the gardens.

The ultimate aim was to hold sightseeing tours there, Mr Peresso added.

The Christmas Village will be open until Monday. It is open on weekdays between 8.30am and 12.30pm and from 5pm to 8pm.

Tomorrow, it will be open between 9am and 12.30pm and from 5pm to 10pm and the opening hours on Sunday are between 8.30am and 1pm and 3pm and 8pm.

Christmas decorations, branded clothes and shoes, oil paintings and plants among others are being sold at the villa.