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10 COMMERCIAL SIX medieval chapels and the neoclas- sical gardens of Villa Ciantar in Pieta have been declared as Grade 1 protect- ed buildings by the Planning Author- ity. ese historic buildings are now safeguarded with the highest protec- tion status, as confirmed in the publi- cation of today's Government Gazette. e process for these properties to be scheduled was carried out in close col- laboration with the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage. Two of the medieval chapels, that ded- icated to St Domenica in Dingli and the Bir Miftuħ chapel in Gudja were both recorded in the 1436 Rollo de Mello list. is list was requested by the Bishop of Malta Senatore de Mello on his arrival to the Island. De Mello, who left a great impact on the local ecclesiastical histo- ry, had commissioned four Cathedral canons to research about the benefices and the existing parishes at the time. e Bir Miftuħ chapel is one of the more refined medieval buildings roofed with pointed arches and built in fine- ly dressed ashlars. Its doorways are all furnished with beautiful hoodmoulds and Melitan mouldings, testament to the chapel's construction during the height of the Medieval period. Unique to this chapel are the remains of an ear- ly 16th-century fresco depicting the last judgement. e existing chapel is small- er than its original size, with the orig- inal foundations still clearly evident in its immediate surroundings. Another medieval chapel, which was given this high protection status is the one found on the Island of Comino, dedicated to the Return of the Holy Family from Egypt. Although the ex- act construction date of this chapel is unknown, records clearly show that a chapel existed on Comino in the 13th century. e chapel is rectangu- lar in plan with a lateral entrance. On entrance, one finds that the chapel is roofed with several groin vaults as op- posed to the usual pointed arches. is chapel has a unique feature in that it retains an iconostasis, a wooden trellis (which replaces the original medieval one) partition which separates the sa- cred area from the rest of the congre- gation which harks back to the Greek Orthodox rite. e medieval chapel of St Michael, more popularly known as Il-Kappella tas-San Ċir or Il-Kappella ta' San Mikiel is Sanċir, located in the limits of Rabat, is built in typical wet rubble with five pointed arches spanned by slabs, most probably from the same period as both the St. Domenica and Bir Miftuh chap- els. At a later period, buttressing was add- ed on its lateral sides for support. One of the pointed arches incorporates a classical period column and other clas- sical architectural fragments were dis- covered in its immediate vicinity. e Chapel was first mentioned by Mons Pietru Dusina when he visited the is- land in 1575. Also mentioned by Mons Pietru Dusi- na is the chapel dedicated to the Bless- ed Virgin under the title of Ħal Xluq in Siggiewi, which has also been given a Grade 1 status. In his writings Mons. Dusina refers to the chapel as being very old and in a dilapidated state. e chap- el was renovated and repaired in 1583, clearly retaining the original medieval fabric as evidenced by the hoodmoulds and melitan moulding of the main and lateral entrances. e chapel is charac- terised by finely dressed ashlar masonry and the refinement of the construction methodology and finishing is again tes- tament to the high level reached in con- struction methodology during the latter Medieval Period. In Bormla, the unique chapel dedicat- ed to the Blessed Virgin under the title of 'tas-Sokkors' differs from the other in that it is rock-cut and located under- ground. Originally it was located on the side of the valley leading down to Borm- la's inner harbour. Although no docu- mentation exists, it is believed that the Chapel was in existing during the late Byzantine period (700-800A.D) when it was originally dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. e chapel under- went alterations during the medieval period when its front was enclosed by a façade. During the 17th century, it was used as Bormla's parish church, only to fall into disuse and eventually into pri- vate hands when its existence was com- pletely forgotten. e chapel was redis- covered during the immediate post-war reconstruction of the St Helen's Gate area and is now preserved underneath a social housing block. e Authority also gave the highest protection to the surviving gardens of Villa Ciantar in Pieta. e late 18th-cen- tury villa and its gardens, known back then as Villa Zammit occupied prac- tically all of the western flank of Pieta' creek, stretching from Villa Frere to Gwardamangia Hill, with its bounda- ry wall running along the whole length of the road. e garden was laid out on several terraces in a high baroque/ neo-classical idiom. e formally laid out gardens were furnished with a va- riety of garden architecture such as raised walkways, a nymphaeum, trium- phal gateways and a tower of four winds which was built on the higher reaches of the garden. e tower is believed to date to the knight's period and was utilised for defence purposes during the French blockade. Arched vaults at ground floor, originally forming part of Villa Zammit were given a Grade 2 protection. PA gives six medieval chapels and distinctive villa garden Grade 1 protection 05.11.2020 The chapel dedicated to 'San Mikiel is Sancir' in Rabat

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