Culture vultures could do no better tomorrow than make a beeline for Bieb is-Sultan in Vittoriosa where Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna will be holding an open day.

FWA has been appointed by the government as curator of the gate forming part of the curtain of bastions known as Cottonera Lines.

For those whose history of the ornate stone gate is a bit patchy, FWA will be holding two guided tours, one at 11 a.m. and another at 4.30 p.m. The tours will be followed by a guided walk along parts of the rampart by the gate also known as Notre Dame Gate in homage to Our Lady of Grace venerated in Zabbar.

The event is being held as part of FWA's participation in the EU Delta project under the auspices of the Euromed Heritage II Programme to spread awareness of the Cottonera as a region.

The Cottonera lines were sponsored by Grand Master Nicola Cotoner in 1675. The Notre Dame Gate may have been designed by the celebrated architect Romano Carapecchia, although the building is attributed to the military engineer Mederico Blondel.

The bust of Grand Master Cotoner which graced the gate was recently taken down by FWA to be restored at the Malta Centre for Restoration. A replica will be made and placed on top of the gate while the original will be housed in a museum.