As you venture into the beautiful countryside of the village of Siġġiewi you will come across several interesting landmarks. One of the most iconic is known as the Is-Salib tal-Għolja, or Laferla Cross. However, right next to it lies what one would say is a lesser-known, yet equally remarkable site: the Lunzjata Chapel. This little chapel has a history that is as layered and also dramatic as the rock it’s built on. Despite it being small, this humble church tells a story of strong faith, geological issues, and one of truly complex restoration projects for Malta.
Through this article, we will explore the history of this chapel, hopefully encouraging you to add this wonderful site to your itinerary.
A Chapel with Deep Roots but Built on Shaky Ground
The Lunzjata Chapel’s origins date back to the 15th century. In fact, this is the period in which the earliest records that mention this chapel were found. The records indicate that it was built by Don Guljelmu Tonna, Dean of the Cathedral Chapter. In medieval documents this chapel was referred to as Sanctae Mariae de la gkemuna, meaning Saint Mary of Kemmuna. Why Kemmuna? Medieval notarial documents say that the area was known by that name in the past, and this could have derived from ‘kemmun’, a plant which could have grown in the area. Since then, the chapel has stood as a beacon of Marian devotion on the hill now known as Tal-Għolja.
However, its elevated position came at quite a price. This is because it was built on unstable, clay-rich ground close to the Miġra Ilma fault and a perched water table. This made the chapel highly vulnerable to seismic activity and underground movements. In fact it suffered substantial damage during major earthquakes in the 15th, 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Nonetheless, the chapel was so loved that everytime it suffered damages, the local community contributed to its repair.
Nonetheless at One Point it Went From a Sacred Space to a Crumbling Ruin
By the 1960s, the Lunzjata Chapel was no longer serving its pastoral function. Because of this, it was neglected for several years and the geological impact and instability led it to suffer serious deterioration. Among the damages it suffered a partially collapsed roof, forward leaning façade, deep wall cracks, subsiding parvis, and to top it all off, a severe pigeon infestation.
In 2019, the Restoration and Preservation Department, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Malta kickstarted a restoration project aimed at breathing new life in this iconic chapel.
Several Years of Challenges and Restoration
After two years of studies followed by delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the much needed intervention began in early October 2023. The focus of this project was that of literally stabilising the chapel from the ground up.
Engineers devised a system of interlinked and reinforced concrete beams beneath the perimeter walls. These beams are tied to seven deep foundation piles drilled 30 metres into the ground, and eight steel anchors inclined to connect to the plateau’s stable inner core. The aim behind all of this is to bypass the hill’s crumbling surface and keep the chapel firmly rooted.
The Restoration Came Across Several Archeological Surprises
As with any thorough restoration project, the process unveiled some hidden secrets. A number of archaeological remains were discovered and preserved. Even the chapel’s walls turned out to be more complex than expected. In fact, the church’s two lateral walls are composed of four ashlar skins interspaced with rubble infill – rather than the previously assumed two outer ashlar skins with infill. This complex wall composition likely resulted from afore-mentioned structural modifications carried out over the centuries. The solution to restoring these was making use of a delicate and innovative technique which led to “stitch” all the layers together, reinforcing the structure without dismantling its history.
A Collaborative Experience
The project is being led by restoration architect Ivana Farrugia on behalf of the Restoration and Preservation Department – the Government entity responsible for funding and overseeing the project from initial planning through to completion. Apart from the Department’s experienced multidisciplinary team, she is also assisted by Dr. Adrian Mifsud, the geotechnical consultant commissioned by the Archdiocese of Malta to design and supervise the execution of the underground consolidation works. The contractor appointed to carry out the works, following a public procurement process, is Ta’ Rdum Construction Ltd.
Future stages of this refurbishment include rebuilding the roof, consolidating the exterior, and cleaning and restoring the interior. All of this will eventually return the chapel to its former dignity.
A Literal Stone’s Throw Away from the Laferla Cross
The chapel shares its dramatic hilltop with the famous Laferla Cross, known in Maltese as the ‘Is-Salib tal-Għolja’. This is a beloved Maltese pilgrimage site, particularly visited during the Holy Week. Originally constructed in 1903 under the supervision of Ġanni Mercieca and named after Fr. Paul Laferla, the Cross commemorates the Holy Year and stands as a spiritual landmark.
The Cross itself has been repeatedly restored, most notably in 1984 due to its highly eroded state of repare. Nowadays it remains a hub for religious tradition. Every Maundy Thursday and Good Friday since 1994, the path leading to the Cross is lit with torches and candles, creating a luminous trail of devotion up the steep hill, which some pilgrims climb barefoot in silence.
