A project which saw the restoration of several state rooms at San Anton Palace was inaugurated by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

“By means of this project, we are bringing San Anton Palace back to its former glory, and ensuring that the different historical periods are duly represented,” she said. 

The President said seven new state rooms, which have all been named after Maltese historical personalities took four years to be restored.  

The rooms are: the Antonie de Paule Hall; Agatha Barbara Hall; Anton Buttigieg Library; Ugo Mifsud Bonnici Hall; Paul Xuereb Hall; Ċensu Tabone Hall; and the Mikiel Anton Vassalli Suite.

Ms Coleiro Preca was quick to add that a number of present state rooms were also renamed after three former Presidents – Guido de Marco, Eddie Fenech Adami and George Abela.

“Ever since the beginning of my Presidency, four years ago today, we have focused on the importance of promoting our uniquely Maltese identity, and heritage... I feel truly proud of the work that has been achieved so far,” she said.

San Anton Palace, Ms Coleiro Preca added, contained various architectural styles and these were all brought together in the restoration to respect the building’s architectural history.

Besides investing in the renovation, restoration and upkeep of the Palace during her presidency, Ms Coleiro Preca said that, together with her team, she also supported studies to make the unique historical building more ecologically sustainable.

She raised the curtain on a seminar being held at the Palace on Friday that will see Amber Wismayer, an architect, present the findings of her four-year PhD project exploring sustainable regeneration of built heritage, in which San Anton features as a centralcase study.

Ms Coleiro Preca said that her presidency had invested in the restoration of the Palace’s 400-year-old water reservoir, which takes some two million litres of water and which will be used for the irrigation of the Palace gardens and orange grove.