Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535522
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 MAY 2025 3 CULTURE A small square near the entrance to the Tarxien Prehistoric Complex has been transformed by Heritage Malta into a new open space. This project was fi- nanced by the Ministry for Tourism. Around two years ago, Heritage Malta and the Ministry for Tourism identi- fied this square in Triq in-Neolitiċi as a space with great potential to be upgrad- ed visually and functionally, and in turn benefit the community and further the two entities' missions. Due to its prox- imity to the entrance of the Tarxien Prehistoric Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is considered an integral part of the tourist product, and it regularly welcomes sizeable numbers of tourists. In close collaboration with the Tarxien Local Council, Heritage Malta created and led a plan for the space to be em- bellished and made more welcoming. Indigenous trees and shrubs, which help the biodiversity of the place and require much less water and are therefore more sustainable, were planted. In this way, a new open space where tourists and res- idents can enjoy the shade of the trees in peace and quiet while appreciating the beauty of Mediterranean flora, has been created. This compliments other greening efforts by Heritage Malta at the same prehistoric complex, including the setting up of a garden for the relaxation and education of the public. Accessibility for cyclists and people with disabilities was also improved in the square. The installed lighting sys- tem is environmentally sustainable. The project was financed by the EcoFund through the Ministry for Tourism, in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority. The Tarxien Prehistoric Complex holds a vital place in Malta's late Ne- olithic and early Bronze Age history. Discovered in 1913, the site has a par- ticularly unique layout consisting of four megalithic structures with monumental architecture, from which a large collec- tion of Neolithic artefacts was excavat- ed. A once-overlooked square near the entrance to the UNESCO-listed Tarxien Prehistoric Complex has been transformed into a welcoming green space by Heritage Malta Embellished open space alongside Tarxien prehistoric complex