The newly-restored façade of the Auberge de Castille has been revealed, with the hoarding removed from the scaffolding as last, coincidentally as the battle begins for the keys of the magnificent building.
The building will today host the final Cabinet meeting of this legislature before the Prime Minister calls on the President to advise him to dissolve Parliament. Dr Gonzi is also due to return to Castille to hold a press conference at 11 a.m.
The restoration work started in 2009 and was meant to be completed by the end of this year. However work still has to be started in earnest on the restoration of the façade over St Paul's Street.
The project is in the hands of the Restoration Unit of the Ministry of Resources.
The building was given its flamboyant Baroque style when it was remodelled in the eighteenth century, having originally been a smaller structure fronting St Paul Street. It was seen as an expression of power and prestige, exalting Grand Master Pinto, whose symbol, the crescent moon, is displayed throughout the building. A bust of the Grand Master is seen above the main door.
The building suffered the ravages of time, particularly the intense sun, the sea air as well as emissions from traffic and the Marsa power station, causing sculptured decorations to crumble and the façades to be blackened with grime. The building was also hit by a bomb in the second world war, although the façades were not demolished.