It’s history, not sentiment: The fight to preserve Malta’s architectural gems

In the heart of Valletta, Malta’s capital city, stands a grand old building. Its once vibrant yellow facade is now a faded echo of its former glory, its windows boarded up, and its history slowly crumbling to dust. This is not an isolated case. Across the island, historic buildings are being lost, not to the ravages of time, but to the wrecking ball and the developer’s dream.

Malta’s architectural heritage under threat

Malta, a nation of just over 500,000 people, is home to a staggering 3,000 historic buildings. From the grandeur of the Baroque palaces to the humble fishermen’s cottages, each one tells a story of Malta’s rich history. Yet, many of these architectural gems are under threat. The pressure to make way for new developments, to cater to the demands of a growing tourism industry, and to meet the needs of a modernising society is putting our architectural heritage at risk.

Take the case of the Auberge d’Italie in Valletta. Built in the 16th century, it was once a grand residence for the Knights of St. John. Today, it stands derelict, its future uncertain. Despite local campaigns to save it, the building has been earmarked for demolition to make way for a new hotel. This is not an isolated incident. Across Malta, historic buildings are being lost, their stories forgotten, their unique charm replaced with the generic glass and steel of modern architecture.

Why save our historic buildings?

But why should we care? After all, isn’t progress inevitable? Isn’t it time to move on from the past? The answer, according to many local architects and historians, is a resounding no. Our historic buildings are not just old buildings, they are tangible links to our past. They are the physical manifestation of our history, our culture, our identity.

Dr. Anthony Pace, a local historian, puts it this way, “When we lose a historic building, we lose a piece of our collective memory. We lose the story it could tell, the lessons it could teach. We lose a part of what makes Malta, Malta.”

Preservation vs. progress: Can we have both?

But can we have our cake and eat it too? Can we preserve our historic buildings while still allowing for progress? Many argue that we can. The example of the Old University Building in Valletta is a case in point. After years of neglect, the building was restored and converted into a luxury hotel. The result is a building that retains its historic charm while also serving a modern purpose.

preserving our historic buildings can also make economic sense. Heritage tourism is a growing industry, and Malta, with its rich history, is well-placed to capitalise on this. According to a report by the Malta Tourism Authority, cultural tourism contributes significantly to Malta’s GDP. By preserving our historic buildings, we are investing in our future.

But to do this, we need to change our mindset. We need to stop seeing our historic buildings as obstacles to progress and start seeing them as assets. We need to recognise that our history is not something to be left behind, but something to be celebrated, preserved, and built upon.

As Dr. Pace puts it, “It’s not about sentiment, it’s about history. It’s about who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going. It’s about understanding that our future is built on our past.”

So, let’s not lose any more pieces of our collective memory. Let’s not let any more stories be forgotten. Let’s not let any more links to our past be broken. Let’s preserve our historic buildings, not out of sentiment, but out of a deep-seated respect for our history, our culture, our identity.

Because, as the old saying goes, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And those who destroy history, destroy their future.