Associations rally to safeguard historic Siggiewi chapel

During a press conference this morning held at the Salib tal-Ghoja area, 26 associations and organisations, led by the Siggiewi Local Council and the Siggiewi Parish, made a national appeal to save the locality’s historic Chapel of the Announciation.

First built in 1420, the chapel is nowadays closed to the public due to severe structural damage, and is in the danger of collapsing.

The 26 associations and organisations urged the relevant authorities to speed up restoration works on the site, since they believe that the chapel forms an integral part of Siggiewi’s landscape and historical identity, and that allowing it to deteriorate would be a shame for the entire country, not just the Siggiewi locality.    

Speaking during the conference, Siggiewi Mayor Karol Aquilina said that this is the first time that such a large gathering of organisations got together in an attempt to safeguard a site that is of such historical and cultural importance to the country as a whole. He explained that the Local Council and the Siggiewi parish do not have the necessary funds to restore the Chapel themselves, and are therefore making a national appeal for funds.

Siggiewi Parish priest Joseph Galea reiterated the historical importance of the Chapel, and said that he hoped the national appeal would be successful, as the Chapel would then continue to serve the same religious function it served for nearly 600 years, before it fell into disuse.  

During the conference it was also explained how the Chapel suffered substantial damage over the past few years due to cracks on the floor, and as a result of being built on clay foundations. This has also resulted in the chapel losing a part of its ceiling – all the more reason why resoration works needs to take place at the site urgently.