St Catherine’s chapel in Rabat to undergo restoration

The Planning Commission has approved a development permit for restoration works to be carried out at St. Catherine’s Chapel in Rabat.

The chapel, known in Maltese as ‘Santa Katerina tad-Daħla’, is located on the road between Dingli and Rabat, in the middle of a very small group of dwellings, from where it derives its name.  

On the chapel’s facade, the restoration works will include the cleaning of staining and the removal of coloured crusts, the repointing of open joints, infilling of areas experiencing macro-pitting and the reinstatement of lacunae and treatment of cracks.

Other interventions include the removal of the timber batons used for the fixing of lighting, the replacement of the mosaic cement step with a hardstone slab, the re-routing and/or camouflaging of the pipe-work for services and the replacement of the aluminium notice board with one of timber.

Works will also be carried out on pavis and area around the chapel and include the removal of aluminium structures which are to be replaced with a simple structure constructed in masonry for the purpose of providing amenity to the precincts, particularly for the holding of community events popular with the residents of the area.

The  area  to  the  side  of  the  chapel  will  be  re-paved  with  granite  slabs  in  a  cream-grey colour, compatible with the surroundings.  The steps to the rear of the area will be paved in  the  same  material,  as  will  the  steps  leading  to  the  sacristy  door  at  the  side  of  the chapel.  The concrete benches in this area will be removed, but the ornate  stone benches will be retained and restored. The lamp posts will also be replaced.

The works will be carried out in accordance with an approved restoration method statement and monitored by the Planning Authority’s conservation officers. The restoration method statement has been endorsed by the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage.

A chapel dedicated to St. Catherine was first built close to the year 1500. This chapel was one of the 30 countryside chapels which fell under the auspice of the Old Capital Mdina and which Mons. Pietro Dusina visited as part of his apostolic visit in 1575. By 1628, a new chapel funded by Indri Vassallo and his wife, replaced the previous one.

This second chapel was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1743 and was almost completely rebuilt to the design it can be appreciated with today. Over the years, the chapel was endowed with a new bell and a titular statue of St. Catherine, much awaited by the people of the locality at the time.