A statue of Grandmaster Jean Parisot de Valette, donated by Lombard Bank, is to be erected in Valletta.
A deed of gift will be signed today by Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt, when a bozzetto of the statue will be revealed.
The original gate, Porta Reale, featured statues of de Valette and Grandmaster l’Isle Adam, which were damaged during the war (photo). About five years ago, the Valletta local council had adopted a motion to erect a statue of de Valette but was unable to source funds for the project.