Restoration of Għaxaq’s Santa Marija completed

The Restoration Directorate has said that restoration works on the statue of the Assumption of Our Lady located in the main village square of Ħal Għaxaq are now complete.

The statue pre-dates the year 1901, as inscribed on its base. Works on site began in mid-June.

The initial phase of the works on site involved the careful removal of the existing, heavily damaged paint layers. These works revealed underlying, older lime-based renders, the nature of which suggested that they belonged to the original colour treatment given to the statue. This original colour scheme and rendering typology was re-adopted during the restoration works.

The directorate falls under the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government.

“Thanks to this work, we’re ensuring the preservation and longevity of significant monuments found in our distinct localities. This statue of Our Lady which is over 100 years old carries a cultural and traditional significance which is at heart of the local community, as well as around Malta and Gozo,” said Justice Minister Owen Bonnici.

“This statue represents our heritage and through this restoration, we are giving it back to the Ħal Għaxaq community in its full original glory,” Minister Bonnici continued.

Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government and Communities Silvio Parnis said the statue is an important historical and cultural heritage for the locality of Ħal Għaxaq, therefore it is important that it is protected.