News


Jul - Sep 2010

www.vittoriosahistorica.org


Vittoriosa bastions on the repair
Caravaggio painting of St Lawrence Martyrdom discovered
Mattia Preti painting of St Lawrence Martyrdom restoration
New page in the history of Malta shipyards
Visit of HE the French Ambassador to the Auberge de France
Summer youth school
Upgrade of the Vittoriosa Library
New premises for Vittoriosa government clinic
Malta Arts Festival
Feast of St Benedict
Seminar on Island and City Harbours
Archbishop’s visit to St Edward’s College
The Imitation of Christ and St Lawrence
Mr Denis Darmanin Uniform Buttons collection
70th anniversary of the first air raids on Malta
Cow’s Head on Admiralty Gate restored
Franciscan Nuns Missionaries of the Immaculate Convent at Vittoriosa
Marian Pilgrimage at Vittoriosa
Family Gollcher Vittoriosa residence
St Ann’s niche at Floriana
Feast of St Lawrence
Mass on St Lawrence Day at Naxxar
Domenican commemoration
St Lawrence Band July-August 2010 newsletter
Salvatur Chapel at Kalkara
Dr Raymond Agius presentation on Joseph Ruggier
Jum il-Birgu 2010
Photo sessions for international company



Vittoriosa bastions on the repair
The government has initiated the ambitious programme of the resortation of Malta’s fortifications with funds from the EU. The project also includes the fortifications of Vittoriosa. This is a landmark event for Vittoriosa because, apart from the rebuilding done during the post war reconstrucion, the Vittoriosa bastions have never seen a full scale resoration initiative since the Grandmastership of Emanuel de Vihena in 1722, which is the year MDCCXXII written across the Gate of Aragon, or Advanced Gate as it is known, to Vittoriosa to mark the event. The repairs had then been entrusted to the renouned Florentine engineer, Mondion. In all truth, it must be stated that the Gate of Aragon was actually given a fitting restoration by the British Military Authorities in 1938 when the sculptured battle trophies on both sides were refreshed – they are now again effaced through erosion. The Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society has issued a press release to correct the impression that was being given in the media that the design of the Vittoriosa fortificatrions are attributable to Mondion. The Society pointed out that the original design of the Birgu bastions goes back to the Grand Mastership of D’Homedes who in 1552 requested Leo Strozzi to report on the defences of Malta, following which the Birgu walls were rebuilt. The restoration works currently under way are being led by a group of architects specialised in resoration works and are expected to give the city walls the much needed facelift. The first strech of bastions to be tackled is the Post of Aragon, the Post of Auvergne and the Post of Provence covering the three gate entrance to the city. A look at the bastions would indeed give the impression that the city is again under siege with huge scaffoldings and ladders towering high from side to side of the walls. It should be recalled that the Vittoriosa fortifications have a special significane because they actually stood the battle during the Great Siege and the same sites mentioned during the siege chronicles are still extant.

Caravaggio painting of St Lawrence Martyrdom discovered
It was a unprecedented coincidence that on the occasion of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the death of the great Italian painter Michaelango Merisi di Caravaggio on 18 July 1610, a painting depicting the martydom of St Lawrence was unearthed from the Jesuits church of Chiesa del Gesu’. The painting has still to go through through scientific and historical testing until Caravaggio is definitevely declared as its author, however it has the unmistakable style and character of the chiaroscuro master. It also bears close resemblane to other masterpieces by the same painter. The discovery will also trigger further study into the painter’s relationship with the Jesuits. A picture of the painting and report were carried in L’Osservatore Romano. One commentator ruled out it was a Caravaggio. It appears the Jesuits felt offended that the picture was given such publicity without their prior consent. It is also by coincidence that a few days before the publication of this news in L’Osservatore Roman, Fr Mark Cauchi wrote a short note in a local newspaper making reference to the Nativity painting which Caravaggio executed in Palermo after his escape from Malta and which depicted St Lawrence and St Francis in adoration with the shepards in front of Baby Jesus. This Caravaggio masterpiece was stolen from the Franciscan Church in Palermo on 17 October 1969.

Mattia Preti painting of St Lawrence Martyrdom restoration
APS Bank, as part of the celebration on the occasion of the centinary of its foundation, has sponsored the restoration of this painting which hangs in one of the lunettes of Chapel of the Langue of Aragon at St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The whole Chapel is in fact in course of being restored. The restoration is has been entrusted to Recoop, an expert local firm of restorers.

New page in the history of Malta shipyards
The Italian company Palumbo SpA has formally taken over the management of the dockyard on a 30-year lease, to add to their existing smaller-scale shiprepair facilities in Messina and Naples. This is a major privitisation on the part of governement because so far the enterprise has been state-owned. The company has committed itself to enhance the Malta yard and to build up its international credibility as amajor Mediterranean shiprepair centre. The company will invest EUR 32 million in modernisation and upgrade of the equipment. The Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society has written to the new owners wishing them success in their venture and also reminding them that shiprepair and shipbuilding activity in Malta saw its origin during medieval times at Birgu. It was also pointed out to them that the fact that Malta’s prized ship-repair yard has been entrusted to Italian interests is not a total breakthrough. Indeed, during time of the Order, it was always the Langue of Italy and Italian knights who controlled the Fleet and the Arsenals and the Head of the Italian Langue was invariably the Captain-General of the Fleet. This is very clearly borne at Vittoriosa because, during the Order’s stay at Birgu between 1530 – 1572, the Auberge d’Italie (unfortunately it is today in a dilapidated state!) stood in close proximity to the Birgu marina, unlike the other auberges which were close to each other. The Italian knights also ran a small hospital dedicated to St Catherine, next door to the Italian Auberge. The Captain-General had his palace on the Vittoriosa waterfront (now the Casino di Venezia).

Visit of HE the French Ambassador to the Auberge de France
Following the decision to move the offices of the Vittoriosa Local Council from Couvre Porte to the Auberge de France in Hilda Tabone Street, the Vittoriosa Local Council invited the French Ambassador, HE Daniel Rondeau, to pay a courtesy visit to the Auberge, this being the only surviving Auberge de France in Malta, the one in Valletta having been demolished during the war. The Ambassador was welcomed by the Vittoriosa Mayor, Mr John Boxall, who toured the Ambassador around the building and explained the meticulous resoration under way. It is the intention od the Vittoriosa Local Council to open up the premises for visitors. On the second floor the Auberge there is a beautiful hall in which the Langue’s top officials used to assemble. On the back side there is a balcony which offers a magnificent view of the Grand Harbour. The Auberge de France was joined to the Residence of the Holy Infirmery Superintendent who was always chosen from among the French knights.

Summer youth school
The St Margaret College of Cottonera has organised a summer youth club to enable youngsters aged 11-15 to meet, make friends and have fun. The club was based at Lorenzo Gafa’ Secondary School, Fortini, Vittoriosa. The club also provided career advice for fifth formers.

Upgrade of the Vittoriosa Library
With the assistance of the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Council, Dr Chris Said, as well as financial contributions from local shop-owners, the Regional Library of Vittoriosa, which is housed in the Auberge d’Angleterre and is managed by the Vittoriosa Local Council, has undergone various maintenance works. Besides, an overhaul of the books and material in the library was conducted with the aim of eventually computerizing the book borrowing system.

New premises for Vittoriosa government clinic
With the assistance of the Health Ministry, the Vittoriosa Health Centre was moved to the first floor of the Auberge d’Angleterre. The clinic has been equiped with modern facilities ans was inaugurated by the Parliamentary Secretary for Local Councils in the presenceof the Vittoriosa Mayor, Mr John Boxall. The latter stated that this was a more accessible place and that it the move would surely be welcomed by the Vittoriosa population, a third of which was over 60.

Malta Arts Festival
As part of the annual Malta Arts Festival organised by the Ministry of Culture. The Vittoriosa waterfront has become alive through an activity put on, for the first time in Malta, by the crew of the vintage sailing ship, MS Hulda, built in 1905, which was bearthed alongside the Vittoriosa wharf opposite Fort St Angelo. The event, particularly aimed mainly at familites and young people, presented a dynamic new approach to interactive learning. Participants were invited to board the vessel to explore its curiosities. The ship contained various workshops where science and art were blended together using wooden models manufactured by the Turkish-Swidish sculptor Ilhan Koman, who was the owner of the ship now managed by a Foundation to promote creativity. Some of the events were held at Caraffa Vaults, also along the Vittoriosa Marina.

Feast of St Benedict
The Benedictine Nuns celebrated the feast of their founder, St Benedict, on 11 July. St Bendict is one of the saints, along with St Catherine of Siena, who were declared by the Church as Patrons of Europe. Solemn Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop, who afterwards paid a visit to the Monastry of Santa Scholoastica. The nuns have occupied the building, formerly, the Holy infirmary of the Order of St John, since 1652.

Seminar on Island and City Harbours
The Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit, which form part of the Institute of Mediterranean Studies within the University of Malta, organised a seminar, entitles, Suspended Spaces, at il-Macina, Senglea, to discuss the significance of island and city to Mediterranean and European cultural identity, with particular reference to Valletta and the Three Cities. Islands have played a critical role in the formation of European culture. Although social histories have hitherto viewed them as isolated and restricted, today many islands are considered as cultural crossroads. Malta under the knights, with the Eight Langues, can be considered as a microcosm for a future integrated Europe transcending nationalism and commercialism. The keynote speech during the seminar was delivered by Prof. Rev. Peter Serracino Inglott. One of the speakers who made specific allusion to Birgu’s intimate historical links with the sea, was Mr Joseph Muscat, marine historian. The Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society was represented by the Vice President, Mr Anton Attard, and the Secretary, Mr Lorenzo Zahra.

Archbishop’s visit to St Edward’s College
Earlier this year Archbishop Paul Cremona paid a visit to St Edward’s College, Vittoriosa. He toured the classes, spoke to the students and staff and planted a tree in the College gardens. Before the school closed for the summer holidays, a group of students from the College taking Italian as a language option participated in an educational trip to Sicily.

The Imitation of Christ and St Lawrence
The Lumen Christi Publications of Gozo has published the 11th edition in Maltese of Thomas a Kempis Imitation of Christ. A book review by Mons. Salv Grima appreared in Lehen is-Sewwa. This famous book contains deep theoligical reflections from the life of Jesus. It was written in the 14th century and has remained a milestone book. It is to be noted that this is a wholly Christ-focussing treatise, however, there is only one saint mentioned, and that is St Lawrence. The author, who was an Augustinian friar, extals St Lawrence’s indifference to wordly comforts and ambitions and his strong character in the face of suffering and torment.

Mr Denis Darmanin Uniform Buttons collection
Mr Denis Darmanin. A member of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society, is features in the MEPA staff magazine Fusion. Mr Darmanin has a passion for Malta’s military history and is the proud owner of a unique collection of uniform buttons which he painstakingly amassed during 30 years. He hopes to realise his long awaited dream: publishing a book on the subject.

70th anniversary of the first air raids on Malta
It was in June 1940, following the declartion of war on Britain by Mussolini’s Italy, that Malta received its first aerial bombings and Malta had its first victims: six Maltese soldiers killed at Fort St Elmo with a direct hit. The step-up for the war had started much earlier so the air raids did not come as a surprise, though the tension was high as the population braced itself for the worse. The first trickle of people abandoning the Three Cities and seeking refuge in the outlying villages had started until it later become a mass exodus. The event is remembered in a two-part feature in The Sunday Times, entitled, Malta prepares for war, by Charles Debono. Another feature entitled Malta sailors killed by friendly fire, by Joseph Caruana, also in the same newspaper, recalls an unhappy accident where an Italian freighter called Polinice, actually on its way to Bulgaria, approached Grand Harbour and was intercepted by sailors on three boats from HMS St Angelo. Unaware of this, the coast defenders from Fort St Rocco by mistake concluded that the three boats were Italian, attempting an attack on Valletta. So they opened fire and blew up two fo the boats, killing the crew, and crippling the Polinice. In 1944 the Polinice was auctioned and was purchased by Chev. Anton Theuma who again sold it in 1946 to E. Schembri Ltd wherupon it was repaired and used for commercial transport under the named Reborn. It was scrapped in 1965.

Cow’s Head on Admiralty Gate resorted
The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage within the Malta Museums authorities have carried out the long-awaited repairs to the effigy of the Cow’s Head overlying the Victualling Yard Gate leading to the Vittoriosa Marina. The sculpture had unfortunatly been damaged some years back when a crane was manoeuvring through the gate and our Society has been pleading with the authorities for its restoration. We are glad that this has now been done. The Cow’s Head was the symbol used by the British Naval Victualling Yard which was based at Birgu Wharf around the Naval Bakery.

Franciscan Nuns Missionaries of the Immaculate Convent at Vittoriosa
This building, which stands adjacent to the Church of our Lady of Mount Carmel at Vittiorsa, has passed into private ownership and is being converted into a commercial property. The building and the Church were formely occupied by the Carmelite Friars who used to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel during the month of July with great solemnity at Vittoriosa. When the Carmelites quitted Vittoriosa, the place was handed to the Franciscan Nuns of the Immaculate also know as Missionaries of Egypt. Their foundress, Blessed Caterina Troiani, actually resided in the Convent for some time. The Nuns used to run a school up to secondary level. The School and the Convent were closed in the late 20th century. The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has undergone a no less pitiable destiny: it is now a workshop and store run by the St Lawrence Festivities Committee !

Marian Pilgrimage at Vittoriosa
The religious organisation known as Legion of Mary, which has branches in several parishes, also used to have a section at Vittoriosa, which is now unfortunately extinct. Nonetheless, the national organ of Legion of Mary has held a Marian pilgrimage at Vittoriosa during July, with the participation of Archbishop Paul Cremona, who closed the event with Mass at St Lawrence Collegiate Church.

Family Gollcher Vittoriosa residence
The Vittoriosa Local Council, in collaboration with the Vittoriosa Histroical & Cultural Society, has placed an inscription on an old house at 40 Hilda Tabone Steet (previously Strada Brittanica) which used to be the residence in the 1850s of the Gollcher family, renouned Maltese shipping agents and merchants to this day. The inscription was sponsored by the Gollcher Foundation.

St Ann’s niche at Floriana
The connection with St Ann at Floriana started with the removal of St Ann’s Gate in 1868 follwoing which a niche to the saint was set up in the vicinity. The niche was reconstructed 50 years ago. Anthony Piscopo, who took over a its curator from his father, recounted its history in Lehen is-Sewwa. He stated that the before the war, it was a certain Carmelo Caruana, born at Vittoriosa, who used to take care of the niche.

Feast of St Lawrence
This year’s special feature for the feast was the participation of the Philarmonie Royale Concordia, a band from thetown of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, as guests of the St Lawrence Vittoriosa Band Club. The Belgian band was formed more tha a 100 years ago and has performed in various concerts of national importance, hence the appellation royal, given to it by King Leopold II of Belgium. The band marched triumphantly through the streets og Birgu for the feast of St Lawrence, and also joined the Vittoriosa St Lawrence band for the grand concert at Vittoriosa square on the artistic band stand. The Vittoriosa band will reciprocate with a visit to Belgium in December 2010.

Mass on St Lawrence Day at Naxxar
Rev. Stephan Galea from Valletta was ordained priest in June 2010. He has been assigned to do pastoral services in the parish of Naxxar. On 10 August 2010, he said Mass on the side-altar dedicated to St Lawrence in the Naxxar Our Lady of Victory Parish Church. The altarpiece was painted by Francesco Zahra. This was unique event because it has been a long time since Holy Mass was said on this side-altar.. Rev. Stephan Galea celebrated his First Solemn Mass at Naxxar on 3 September, as part of the preparation for the feast of OurLady of Victory.

Domenican commemoration
This year’s Feast of St Dominic at Vittoriosa had a special theme: the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Annunciation Church and Domenican Convent at Vittoriosa in 1960. These were raised to the ground during the war and the Domencian community lost most of its church treasures and had to find temporary refuge, by a curious coincidence of history, in the adjacent Inqusitors Palace,. The new complex was ready in 1960 and the Friars moved out of the Inquistors’ Palace. To commemorate the anniversary, the Annunciation Church was decked during the run up for the feast, with the beautiful Camilleri Cauchi statutes of Domencian saints and theologians all in a file on both sides of the church interios. These statues are the same ones that are used for street decoration for the Feast of St Dominic. The festivities were inaugurated by a solmn translation of the relics of St Dominic from St Lawrence Parish Church to the Annunciation Church. The main celebrations were led by Archbishop Paul Cremona OP. A detailed researched article on the history of the Annunciation Church, with particular emphasis on its reconstruction in 1960 was written by Anton Attard, Vice-President of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society and published in the programme brochure of the feast.

St Lawrence Band July-August 2010 newsletter
This edition of the newsletter, besides being a beautifully printed edition, contains various interesting articles. George Cilia brings back the memory of Fr William Axiaq OFM Cap, well known theologian who died earlier this year and who was the preacher for the St Lawrence Novena in 2006. Anton Attard digs up old newspapers and discovers several unhappy accidents, some of them fatal, that took place during the feasts of St Lawrence and St Dominic. The year 1882 was particularly a black year for Vittoriosa: on St Lawrence eve of that year a 12 year old boy, Pio Cassar, was hit by falling fireworks pole and lost his life; just after the feast of St Dominic, Toni Cauchi fell off a ladder while dismantling the oil lamps from the old church belfrey. In the series of interviews that Paul Micallef is featuring in every issue of the newsletter, he meets Mro Paul Schembri who has been Bandmaster of the St Lawrence Band for 30 years. Finally, Simon Farrugia describes the various projects under way to restore and embellish the Band’s premises, including the renovation of the musical archives, the construction of a new hall, and the launch of a new website.

Salvatur Chapel at Kalkara
This chapel was recently restored. However, it is still bereft of the Mattia Preti altarpiece of the Transfiguration. Simon Mercieca, in an article on this painting in the Kalkara Feast of St Joseph programme booklet, explores the history of this chapel, which used to form prt of the Vittoriosa parish. The painting was lost around the period of the French occupation. He quotes Can Giuseppe Cassar, from the St Lawrence Collegiate Chapter, who in 1916 tried to put pressure on the British naval authorities to try and investigate the disappearance of this painting.

Dr Raymond Agius presentation on Joseph Ruggier
Joseph Ruggier was a Maltese seaman who saved 35 lives from the shipwreck of The Royal Charter, an iron clipper that was battered against the treacherous rocks of North Wales in 1859. Last year the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society commemorated this Vittoriosa born hero by an article in the local newspapers. Dr Raymond Agius, who is a desendant of Joseph Ruggier and who is a member of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society, made a researched presentation at the Malta Maritime Museum on Joseph Ruggier’s heroic feats. He also made a present to the Museum of various artifacts recovered from the wreck and also a reproduction of an 1860 painting of the event by Henry Nelson O’Neil, now in a private collection in the UK.

Jum il-Birgu 2010
The Vittoriosa Local Council this year organised the Thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of Vittoriosa Day at the Annunication Church, Vittoriosa, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the church. The Mass was said by Rev. Fr Joseph Bonnici, OP, assisted by Rev. Archpriest, Joseph Caruana, in the presence of Vittoriosa Mayor, Mr John Boxall and guests. This was followed by a a programme of renaissance and baroque music at the Inquisitors Palace, played by musical ensembles from Portugal, Spain, Italy and Malta, under the European Cultural Programme, Oralities. It is to be regretted that the public manifestations were completely ignored by the Vittoriosa Local Council: the traditional speech and wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the Victory Monument in Vittoriosa Square, for no given reason, were not held. On its part, the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society place a laurel wreath at the foor of the Monument. Within St Lawrence Church, the Mass for the Repose of the Great Siege victims was said by Mons. Joseph Caruana, with the sacred icon of Our Lady of Victories in the background. Afterwards, in a short procession, he blessed the precincts of St Lawrence Church, the site of the burial ground of the said vistims.

Photo sessions for international company
The South African firm of cultured jewelry chose Malta as location for the adverting photos for its next seasons sales brochures. Photo sessions with models from Malta and overseas were held on location at Valletta, Vittoriosa and Mdina.