Maltese landmarks : is-Salib tal-Għolja

Abstract

Laferla Cross more commonly known as Is-Salib Tal-Għolja was erected at the top of Malta`s highest hill on 27 September 1903. Originally it formed part of the stations of a life size Via Crucis but later its erection was made to coincide with the consecration of the 20th century to Christ the Redeemer. Fr. Paul Laferla of Siġġiewi first had the idea of setting up an open air Via Crucis along the rugged slope of Tal-Għolja. He was a great devotee of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and had often desired to see that Good Friday was celebrated in his parish with a Passion 308 procession containing various statues of the Via Crucis as was being done in many Maltese villages and towns. For this purpose he began to collect the necessary funds for the execution of his project. However his fund raising efforts did not produce encouraging results and consequently he modified his plans to fit a less ambitious project.