Valletta 2018 Foundation this morning marked Valletta’s Foundation Day in an activity with school children at Our Lady of Victory Church, Valletta.

Children from St Ġorġ Preca College, St Elmo Primary School, Valletta, were shown around the church on occasion of the 448th anniversary of the capital's foundation.

Valletta 2018 Foundation chairman Jason Micallef addressed the children.

Staff from Din l-Art Ħelwa, which is undertaking the restoration works of the church and its treasures, explained to the children how the Our Lady of Victory Church was the first building of the new capital city. It stands on the spot where a religious ceremony was held to inaugurate the laying of the foundation stone of the new city on 28th March 1566. It also commemorates the victory over the Ottoman Empire during the ‘Great Siege’ of 1565.

Grand Master De Valette was originally buried at the church and his remains were later transferred to St John’s Co-Cathedral. In 1617, the Order of St John named Our Lady of Victory Church as Church of the Order.

Significant changes to the façade, the sacristy, the belfry and the residence of the parish priest were made over the years. The church suffered considerable deterioration both on its structure and the paintings which adorn it. These include works by Francesco Zahra, Ermenegildo Grech and Enrico Arnaux.

In 2000, a joint project was set up between Din l-Art Ħelwa, the Valletta Rehabilitation Project and the Museums Department to carry out restoration work on the structure and the paintings. The restoration of the external structure was completed in 2004 while works on the church’s interior continue.

Valletta’s 448th anniversary is marked on 28th March and the Valletta Local Council will be honouring a number of individuals who have given a great contribution to Valletta over the years. The honour Ġieħ il-Belt will be awarded during a ceremony on Friday evening.