Castellania (Malta)

This article is about the Castellania in Valletta. For the one in Birgu, see Inquisitor's Palace.
Castellania
Kastellanija

Façade of the Castellania
Alternative names Palazzo Castellania
Castellania Palace
General information
Status Intact
Type Courthouse
Architectural style Baroque
Location Valletta, Malta
Coordinates 35°53′48.6″N 14°30′44.6″E / 35.896833°N 14.512389°E / 35.896833; 14.512389
Current tenants Ministry of Health
Construction started 1757
Opening 17 November 1760
Owner Government of Malta
Technical details
Material Limestone
Floor count 2
Design and construction
Architect Francesco Zerafa
Giuseppe Bonnici

The Castellania (Maltese: Kastellanija), officially as Palazzo Castellania and sometimes knowm as Castellania Palace,[1] is an 18th-century Baroque palace in Valletta, Malta, which was built by the Order of St. John as a courthouse and prison. The building served this purpose until the courts were transferred to the Auberge d'Auvergne in the 19th century. It subsequently served as secondary school before becoming the head office of the Public Health Department, which was later renamed the Medical and Health Department. Today the Castellania houses the Ministry of Health, the successor of these departments.

History

Main area in the upper floor

The Castellania of Valletta was first built in the 1570s, during the magistracy of Jean de la Cassière, to replace the earlier law courts in Birgu (which later became the Inquisitor's Palace). In 1757, during the magistracy of Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, the original Castellania was demolished, and a new building was constructed in its place. The new Castellania was built in the Baroque style, to a design by the architect Francesco Zerafa. Zerafa died before its completion, and he was substituted by the architect Giuseppe Bonnici.[1] The edifice was officially opened in November 1760.[2]

Courtyard in the Castellania

A craftsman who certainly worked on the building's decorative sculpture was Maestro Giovanni Puglisi, a Neapolitan buonavoglia. As fate would have it, he would become the first man to be convicted and sentenced to death in the Castellania. A pillory stone is located at the building's corner. Above the stone is a hook, which was probably originally used to lift the bells of St. John's Co-Cathedral. It might have also been used to secure prisoners on the pillory.[3]

By the 19th century, the building became too small to house the law courts, and they were transferred to Auberge d'Auvergne in 1840. By 1853, the building was abandoned, but part of it was later converted to a secondary school for girls.[2] In 1895, Gerald Strickland constituted the Public Health Department, and the Castellania became its head office. Physician and archaeologist Sir Themistocles Zammit had a laboratory within the Castellania, and in 1905 he discovered the Mediterranean strain of brucellosis while working there.[1]

Today, the Castellania houses the Ministry of Health, the successor of the Public Health Department, while the ground floor of the building is occupied by a number of shops. The building is a Grade 1 national monument,[4] and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[5]

Architecture

The Castellania is built in Baroque architecture, having an ornate façade decorated with a number of marble sculptures, including allegories of Justice and Truth. The façade originally had a bust of Pinto and his coat of arms, but these were removed either during either during the French occupation of Malta or in the early 19th century.[4]

The building is two stories high, and it is built on three sides of a small courtyard at the rear. The interior of the building contains offices, a court hall, a chapel and prison cells.[5]

Above the door an inscription says:

Inscription above the main entrance
DEO OPT. MAX.

EMMANUEL PINTO M.M. ET PRINCEPS
HUNC UTRIUSQUE JUSTITIAE LOCUM
VETUSTATE PROPE LABENTEM,
AD TERROREM POTIUS, QUAM AD POENAM
A FUNDAMENTIS ANNI FERE SPATIO
RENOVAVIT AUXIT ORNAVIT.
A. D. MDCCLVIII

Gallery

Exterior of the Castellania
Interior of the Castellania
Plaques at the palace
Prison cells
Sir Temi Zammit Laboratory
Historical graffiti

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Castellania Palace". Ministeru tas-Saħħa, l-Anzjani u l-Kura fil-Komunità. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 Denaro, Victor F. (1958). "Houses in Merchants Street, Valletta" (PDF). Melita Historica 2 (3): 159–161.
  3. ↑ "One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (36)". Times of Malta. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 "The Castellania". MEPA. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Castellania" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

Further reading

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