Banca Giuratale (Valletta)

This article is about the building in Valletta, Malta. For other uses, see Banca Giuratale (disambiguation).
Banca Giuratale
Banka Ġuratali

View of the Banca Giuratale in the 19th century
Former names Palazzo della Città
Consolato del Mare
Alternative names Municipal Palace
General information
Status Intact
Type City hall
Architectural style Baroque
Location Valletta, Malta
Coordinates 35°53′52″N 14°30′49.1″E / 35.89778°N 14.513639°E / 35.89778; 14.513639
Current tenants Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business
Completed 1721
Owner Government of Malta
Technical details
Material Limestone
Floor count 2
Design and construction
Architect Romano Carapecchia

The Banca Giuratale (Maltese: Banka Ġuratali), formerly also known as the Municipal Palace (Maltese: Palazz Muniċipali), the Palazzo della Città or the Consolato del Mare,[1] is a palace in Valletta, Malta. It was built in the 18th century to house the city's administrative council, and it was subsequently used as the General Post Office and the Public Registry. The Banca Giuratale now houses the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business.

History

The Banca Giuratale was originally a house which belonged to Dr. Gio Batta Piotto. It was taken over by the treasury of the Order of St. John in 1665, and was exchanged with the Università, which was the local administrative council of Valletta, in 1721. The building was subsequently reconstructed during the magistracy of Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari. The new building was designed by the architect Romano Carapecchia.[2]

In 1841, the Banca Giuratale became a post office when the Packet Office was transferred there from La Casa del Comun Tesoro in Piazza Tesoreria. The Island Post Office was also transferred into the Banca Giuratale on 1 April 1849, and the two were merged into the General Post Office in 1885. A year later, the GPO moved to Palazzo Parisio.[3]

For many years, the Banca Giuratale housed the Public Registry. The latter has now moved to Evans Building,[1] and the Banca Giuratale now houses the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business.[4] The building is a Grade 1 national monument,[2] and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[5]

Architecture

Baroque façade of the Banca Giuratale

The Banca Giuratale is built in the Baroque style. The main portal is flanked by Doric columns which support an open balcony.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Banca Giuratale (Valletta).
  1. 1 2 "Public Registry". Ċertifikati.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (59)". Times of Malta. 13 December 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Proud, Edward B. (1999). The Postal History of Malta. Heathfield: Proud-Bailey Co. Ltd. pp. 186–189. ISBN 1872465315.
  4. ↑ "Contact Information". Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Municipal Palace/ Banca Guratale" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
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