St John's Square

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In the middle of the square, facing the parvis and entrance to the Cathedral, there is a small monument to former Prime Minister of Malta Enrico Mizzi, sculpted in 1964 by Vincent Apap (b 1909; d. 2003). To the left and right of the Cathedral entrance, are the Lion and Unicorn fountains, sculpted out of the native limestone by Maltese sculptor Mariano Gerada (b 1766; d 1823), [ [http://www.artnet.com/library/03/0314/T031467.asp artnet.com Resource Library, "Mariano Gerada"] ] which originally featured water transported to Valletta from the highlands around Mdina by means of an aqueduct developed by Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt. [ [http://www.medinaproject.net/malta/pages/poc.php?ID_POC=184&ID_Lang=1 Medina Project, "Wignacourt Aqueduct".] ]

Although this "pjazza" is today a favourite meeting place in the heart of Malta's baroque capital city, its origins are relatively recent. It did not form part of the original plans of the city, as drafted by the Knights' architect, Francesco Laparelli. Prior to the Second World War, two large apartment buildings with street-level store fronts stood on this location, divided by the narrow street then referred to as "Strada San Zaccaria" (now, "Triq San Żakkarija"). [Giovanni Bonello, "The Lure and Lore of Malta's Old Shopfronts," in "Histories of Malta: Convictions and Conjectures", Vol. 4 (Valletta: Patrimonju Publishing, 2003), p. 204.] However, these buildings suffered massive damage due to aerial bombardment during the War. During the reconstruction years following the War, the Government of Malta requisitioned the central portion of both these buildings, to create the square that exists today.

St. John's Square is one of the few "green" areas in Valletta, as it features several large ficus trees that were planted along the facade of the Cathedral in the 1920s. A recent decision to remove some, or all of these trees due to the potential damage that their roots might cause to the Cathedral's priceless marble floors, has been met with considerable public outcry. Curiously, these trees are considered an important bird area for the White Wagtail, which migrate from European breeding grounds every year to spend the winter in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and northeastern Africa. [ [http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=266219 Massimo Farrugia, " 'Balance' sought as ficus by St John's face the chop", The Times of Malta, Tuesday, June 26, 2007] ] This decision is being challenged by, among others, the Valletta Rehabilitation Project, whose executive co-ordinator has been quoted as saying: "St John's is mostly built on solid rock, so there are no vaults through which the roots could penetrate the church as has been suggested." [ [http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=266790 Pamela Hansen, "Red alarm, a resignation and alarmist tactics," The Sunday Times, Sunday, July 1, 2007] ] ]

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