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Saturday 31st October – Sunday 1st November 2009
from 9am to 5pm.
Opportunity for public to view the first phase of restoration works.
Fort Manoel has stood proudly overlooking Marsamxett Harbour as a monument to Malta’s baroque military architecture since the early 18th century, yet few have had the opportunity to set foot inside this impressive fortress. As restoration works on this important landmark have now reached an advanced stage, MIDI plc, the consortium responsible for the restoration, will be hosting an open weekend in order to give the general public an opportunity to view the first phase of the restoration of this Fort.
Fort Manoel was built by the Knights of St John to protect Valletta’s north-facing bastions from artillery fire from the ‘isoletto’ in Marsamxetto Harbour. The first stone was laid in 1723 under the patronage of Portuguese Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena and the supervision of world-famous engineer Francois de Mondion, who would eventually be buried in the fort’s crypt.
While its defining characteristics survived the ravages of time, over the centuries Fort Manoel fell into disrepair, especially following the heavy and extensive aerial bombardment endured during World War II. Further damage was also inflicted during peacetime by vandals and souvenir-hunters, and by the end of the 20th century, a derelict ruin was all that remained of this once proud and imposing fortress.
The Open Weekend will comprise scheduled tours around Fort Manoel, in both Maltese and English, as well as an exhibition of the fort’s history and other related activities.
One of the highlights of this event will be a series of lectures about the history and restoration of the Fort conducted by some of Malta’s top military historians and restoration experts. Lectures will take place within the Polverista at Fort Manoel on Saturday 31st October. There will also be a World war 2 re-enactment activity by the Malta Command group and an 11 o’clock Sunday mass in the Polverista.
‘During the course of the restoration we received numerous requests from individuals and organizations asking to view the Fort; sometimes these could be accommodated, and sometimes not, as it depended entirely on the state of works at the time. Now that the main structural interventions are complete, there is a short gap before internal works commence and we feel it would be an ideal opportunity to open the Fort up to those interested in viewing it. We also took the opportunity to invite classes of children from over 50 local schools, some of whom are planning lessons and projects on the subject of restoration. The added awareness that events like this create can only help the future of the many other historic sites and forts all over the island that are still in desperate need of repair.’ explained Midi CEO, Ben Muscat.
The revitalization of Fort Manoel is part of an extensive multi-million Euro restoration project undertaken on both Manoel Island and Tigne Point by Midi plc. This mammoth restoration programme includes Fort Tigne, the Lazzaretto and other sites on Manoel Island which are to be restored under the obligations in the lease agreement between Midi and the Government of Malta. Works to Fort Manoel commenced in 2001 and are now at an advanced stage, with masonry works to most of the internal buildings and the parade ground now complete.
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