Laferla Cross
The Laferla Cross is an early 20th-century religious landmark on the outskirts of Siġġiewi, in Malta. It is situated on a hill close to the Chapel of the Annunciation and the Cemetery of Saint Theodore.
History
The original Laferla Cross was built under the supervision of Ġanni Mercieca in 1903. It was named after Fr. Paul Laferla, who proposed its construction as a memorial of the Holy Year. A year after its construction, the cross was blessed by the Archbishop and an art painting of Our Lady of Sorrows was placed within the shrine. The cross was restored on number of times generally due to damage and degradation but it has at times collapsed.The 1903 Laferla Cross was replaced with a 1963 Italian replica reinforced in bronze and iron. Threatened by erosion and in danger of collapse the cross was restored by locals craftsmen in 1984. The pathway leading to the Cross was included as part of the EU’s Rural Development Programme for Malta in 2014 to rehabilitate the environment around the landmark by paving of the area surrounding the cross and the pathway behind it to improve accessibility and attract more visitors.