New & now
Restored Luqa naval reservoir opens its doors to the public
The Water Services Corporation is organising an open weekend.

Emma Galea

For such a tiny island, Malta sure is filled with historical, architectural, and cultural gems, and Luqa’s newly restored naval reservoir is a perfect example of all three.

Built between 1905 and 1909, back when Malta was ruled by the British, this reservoir can hold up to a whopping 45 million litres of water and is a whole five storeys high.

Its grandiose design and perfectly executed arches earned it the nickname of ‘The Underground Cathedral’.

The British resorted to building a reservoir in Luqa for safety reasons, just in case the nearby Dockyard caught fire. It was one of the first projects in Malta to make use of a reinforced concrete structure.

After undergoing a €500,000 renovation, executed by the Water Services Corporation (WSC), Luqa’s reservoir is once again ready to serve its purpose.

However, before it’s filled back up with water, the WSC is organising an open weekend, from 19th to 20th March, allowing the general public to pay this architectural gem a visit.

Unfortunately, WSC has just announced that the event is fully booked - having said that, do check out their Facebook page to stay updated with the latest developments.

Did you manage to book a place? 

Main Images: The Naval Reservoir/ Daniel Cilia 

10th March 2022


Emma Galea
Written by
Emma Galea
Emma is a Gozitan writer who loves all things related to English literature and history. When not busy studying or writing you will either find her immersed in a fictional book or at the cinema trying to watch as many films as she possibly can!

You may also like...
New & now
New & now
They were particularly loved by the community for their impeccable bread.

Emma Galea
New & now
New & now
They’re common in Maltese waters during this time of year.

Emma Galea
New & now

Lyndsey Grima
New & now
New & now
New & now
From pastizzi trays to figolli cutters and carnival crowns, Sebastian shares his passion for the manual trade and how it has characterised most of his life.

Edward Bonello