Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is shocked by the announcement that a commercial application has been made to convert the lower floor—the oldest part—of the ancient Palazzo Sofia, built in 1233 in Mdina, into yet another two catering outlets in the Silent City. Palazzo Sofia is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Mdina, having survived various earthquakes, sieges, and modern depredations. Over the past decades, Mdina has been over-commercialised, which has sadly degraded its

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna welcomes with satisfaction yesterday’s announcement by the Prime Minister, Dr Robert Abela, that the Government intends to reclaim the historic forts of Tigné in Sliema, Manoel in Gżira and San Salvatore in Kalkara from their present owners so that, together with Fort Campbell in Mellieħa, they may be restored and opened to the public. For the past 40 years, FWA has consistently recommended this approach to the safeguarding of the many historic forts th

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is seriously alarmed by the announcement made yesterday that the lease of Fort Tigne in Sliema is about to change hands between developers to be turned into a hotel. This historic fort has been lying empty and in a state of abandonment for over a decade despite the initial effort made to restore it as part of Midi's planning obligations to develop Tigne Point. Putting it to a sustainable sympathetic use without impinging on its special historic and arch