A publication by the Restoration Directorate, outlining the details of €43.3 million spent on various fortifications, was unveiled yesterday. Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said 85 per cent of the money was supplied by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund while the remaining 15 per cent came from national funds.

“We decided to go ahead with this publication to offer the public a breakdown of the funds spent and to explain the extensive restoration process in a scientific yet simple way,” Dr Bonnici said.

The project, ERDF 039: Restoration and Rehabilitation of Historical Fortifications of Malta and Gozo, was divided into five areas – Valletta, Vittoriosa, Mdina, the Victoria Ċittadella and Senglea.

The largest share of the funds was used to give Vittoriosa a revamp, with €13.2 million spent at the fortified locality. The restoration included Couvre Porte, St John Bastion, St John Cavalier, St James Bastion, Post of Castile and Hornworks, Kalkara Enceinte, Land Front Ditch as well as on repaving works and the installation of new lighting systems.

In Valletta, restoration costs reached €11.7 million, while €9.7 million were spent on Mdina, €6.3 million at Gozo’s Ċittadella and €0.3 million at Senglea.

The Fortification Interpretation Centre, an interpretative museum on Malta’s fortifications, was included at a later stage. €2 million were spent on the rehabilitation of this 16th-century building at St Mark’s Street, in what was previously an examination centre at Biagio Steps, in Valletta. Copies of the publication, which shows the fortifications in their ‘before and after’ states, will be available at all public libraries.