Restaurant land at Hagar Qim to be returned to original owners after a 14-year battle
The case has finally been put to rest.
After a 14-year legal saga, operators of Ta’ Hagar Qim Restaurant will be evicted from the land near one of Malta's most historical spots, after it was found that the restaurant was illegally built over a decade ago on land near the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Qrendi.
Hagar Qim Bar and Restaurant / Facebook
The court case dates back to 2005, when heirs of the late Giuseppa Magri (the original landowner) filed a case against the operators over a field with overlying structures near the temples.
Reportedly, the operators had made several and extensive structural alterations to the area, going as far as opening the restaurant, going against the wishes of Magri and her children.
The restaurant in question is situated above the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra temples car park. The temples are among the most ancient religious sites on Earth and are “unique architectural masterpieces” as described by the World Heritage Sites committee.