Nicca tal-Bojja - Kurcifiss' (Square)

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In Vittoriosa Square, one finds a crucifix carved in stone placed in a small niche. The crucifix is mentioned in history because it is said that executions used to take place in front of it during the Order of the Knights of St. John in the sixteenth century. The convicts were taken to the place of execution by the Brothers of St. Joseph of Vittoriosa. In fact, in the Parish Museum in the Oratory of St. Joseph there is a processional cross and two lanterns that used to be in front. One of the most notorious executions was the burning of French priest Francesco Gesualdo in 1546, as he was sentenced to death after being found guilty of heresy.

 

Until before the war this Crucifix was not found in Vittoriosa Square as it is today but was on the façade of a place bearing the number Four and Five, which consisted of a house and a shop, known as "the house of the crucifix" or "the shop below the Crucifix", in Brittanika Road. In the war this place was affected and ruined except for the façade and the crucifix. The Cilia family, who lived in this house before the war, thought that after the war they could rebuild the house, as others had done, with War Damage money. But this could not be done because the British Government, which had taken responsibility for the reconstruction of the island, had hired the town-planners: A. Hubbard and P. S. Harrison, to plan new buildings and roads for the three cities and the city of Valletta. The house of the Crucifix was marked in this reconstruction plan, to be replaced by Government apartments. Thus, when the war was over the Crucifix niche moved from Brittanika street to Vittoriosa Square.

 

The Vittoriosa Historical and Cultural Society in 2009 wrote to the Vittoriosa Local Council to restore this Crucifix and make a suitable niche. The Council agreed unanimously but it took many years for the project to finally begin. In April 2020,  with the involvement of the Kottonera Foundation, work was carried out to restore this crucifix of historical value along with work on the new decorative niche.In collaboration with Kottonera Foundation

 

​Fil-Pjazza tal-Birgu, naraw Kurċifiss skolpit fil-ġebel imqiegħed ġo niċċa żgħira. Il-kurċifiss hu msemmi fl-istorja għax quddiemu jingħad li kienu jsiru l-eżekuzzjonijiet fi żmien l-Ordni tal-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann fis-seklu sittax. L-ikkundanati kienu jiġu imwassla fil-post tal-esekuzzjoni mill-Fratelli ta’ San Ġużepp tal-Birgu. Fil-fatt fil-Museum tal-Parroċċa li hemm fl-Oratorju ta’ San Ġużepp hemm salib proċessjonali u żewġ lanterni li kienu jimxu fuq quddiem. Wieħed mill-każijiet ta’ esekuzzjoni li l-aktar jisemma li seta’ sar hawn, hu dak tal-ħruq tal-qassis Franċiż Francesco Gesualdo fl-1546, hekk kif ġie kundanat għall-mewt wara li nstab ħati li kien eretiku.

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