Anyone passing through Ta’ Buqana road between Mosta and Rabat is likely to notice a historic room on the roadside, possibly seeming a little out of place among the modern cars that drive by it everyday.

This room serves as a base for a niche with the statue of Our Lady (il-Madonna tar-Raġġi) encased within the southern wall. It is indicated by the stone scroll carved beneath the niche, that the room and niche were erected between 1780 and 1807, back when its surroundings were much more rural.

The room was originally roofed over by stone slabs being supported by corbels, known as ‘kileb’ in Maltese, but was eventually abandoned leading to the collapse of the roof.

The room was restored by the Restoration and Preservation Department last year, which included the reinstatement of the roof and the inclusion of a traditional ‘deffun’ layer, made up of porous materials to prevent water ingress. The niche also made part of the restoration, with stone replacement where necessary.

Now, anyone driving along Ta’ Buqana road can truly enjoy the work of sculptors from over two centuries ago, with the backdrop of the surroundings fields and the Mdina Cathedral looming in the distance.

Have you ever noticed the Ta’ Buqana niche?