Six contracts amounting to almost €10 million have been awarded for the restoration of the Valletta and Vittoriosa bastions, and for the consolidation of the unstable walls of Mdina and the Gozo Citadel. More contracts are to be given in future.

Resources minister George Pullicino said the fortifications formed an integral part of Malta’s historic landscape and the effort that is necessary to redress this state of affairs could only materialise through European Regional Development Fund support. In fact, 85 percent of the money required for the project would be coming from the fund with the Maltese government forking out the additional 15 percent, adding up €36 million.

Once complete, the works would serve to recuperate various areas currently unutilised, making them available for cultural activities or other purposes, adding to their overall rehabilitation and greater integration into the tourism product.

The project would also improve the poor state of repair and presentation of the country's military architecture.

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