Towards a holistic interpretation of Valletta : the case study of corner statues

Abstract

The following research deals primarily with the documentation of the corner statues in Valletta, the first of which were installed by the German Grand Prior of the Order of the Knights of St. John. As time went by, more statues started being erected, which served the illiterate public well, as they took on the role of landmarks. The documentation includes observations and photographs taken over a period of five months, during which some statues had been slightly changed. Archival research in the form of maps and old photographs backed up the findings and observations. The aim of the dissertation was to take all the information about the statues, and allow it to inform the holistic interpretation of Valletta, therefore connecting the statues to a network to supply them with a function that they currently do not possess. Ethics concerning the statues' welfare were thoroughly discussed with the intention of furthering their interpretation and expanding it to the whole City. Case studies were also consulted to be able to carry out this part of the study, which resulted in the application to a heritage trail around Valletta making use of current technologies to better the user experience.