In this episode of Smart Regions, we explore how an EU-funded restoration project helped bring Gozo's magnificent Cittadella back to life and reveal hidden treasures from its past.
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00:00 Majestic, dominating, with the sea in its sights. The citadel of the island of Gozo
00:07 in Malta has had many uses over the centuries - defensive, religious, administrative. The
00:14 Phoenicians and the Romans, among others, passed through here. And although it had been
00:19 abandoned for many years, it`s now been restored thanks to a European project.
00:25 We restored most of the facades, the historical buildings within the citadel. We also took
00:32 away all the services, which were in a way very intrusive. Piazzas and streets were recreated
00:40 and repaved, making them more accessible.
00:48 Also known as Castello, the citadel houses several churches within it, such as the 17th
00:54 century cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. The rehabilitation of this bastion, which
01:00 the Gozotans used as a refuge from invaders, has uncovered secret passages and many other
01:06 hidden treasures.
01:13 During the excavation, we started finding the old entrance to the citadel. And we had
01:20 to excavate it slowly, slowly, so that we don`t damage the fabric that we found. It
01:25 is still intact. It`s being showcased now. And you can pass on top of it. We also found
01:30 bronze age pits.
01:34 The restoration was carried out between March 2014 and June 2016. Maintenance work on the
01:41 citadel, the winner of the first RegioStars 2022 prize for the best European project,
01:46 is still ongoing.
01:53 The final budget is 14.8 million euros, 85 percent of which has been covered by the European
02:01 cohesion policy, and the remaining 15 percent by Malta.
02:08 Every year, nearly one million visitors flock to discover its cultural heritage and beauty.
02:16 One of the main points of interest of this restoration is the visitor center, which under
02:20 British rule housed two water reservoirs.
02:27 We learned that France was involved in Gozo`s history, the Ottomans too. You learn all about
02:34 its history by reading the panels, but above all by visiting the museum, which is full
02:38 of interesting things. When you come out of there, you have a feeling of being a well
02:42 of culture.
02:45 The citadel is not Gozo`s only jewel. This prominent tree, populated by endemic plants
02:50 and animals, is situated in a Natura 2000 area.
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