Montekristo signs disowned by Transport Malta

Over the past days brown signs have been installed in a number of localities including Siggiewi, Zebbug and Qormi to direct drivers towards Montekristo, the controversial and partly illegal property owned by construction magnate Charles Polidano.

The signs directing people to Montekristo have been put on public property and follow the international convention on tourist signs, which consist of brown signs with white lettering and white pictograms. 

The Montekristo signs follow the international convention but are different from those put up by Transport Malta but are strikingly similar to signs used abroad.

Transport Malta, the authority responsible for signage told MaltaToday that the authority did not install any such signage because Montekristo is not a historical site as defined and approved by the Malta Tourism Authority.  

Moreover Transport Malta does not implement nor does it approve directional signing to private developments.  In fact MaltaToday is informed that private owners often erect such signs leading to private developments and the authorities have closed an eye on this abuse.  But this is the first time that a private sign has been modelled on the internationally recognised signage used to direct people including tourists to historical sites. 

Montekristo a kitsch blend of architectural styles, which include a Greek temple and a tower modelled on the De Redin towers, is subject to a number of enforcement orders.  The company also has pending applications to sanction a number of unauthorised works.