Palazzo Dorell Explained

Palazzo Dorell
Former Names:Bettina Palace, Villa Dorell, Villa Bettina, Palais d'Aurelle
Pushpin Map:Malta
Coordinates:35.8506°N 14.507°W
Status:Intact
Building Type:Hunting lodge
Palace
Architectural Style:Palladian architecture[1]
Location:Gudja, Malta
Namesake:Pietro Paolo Dorell Falzon
Completion Date:1670
Owner:Gino, Baron di San Marco
Material:Limestone
Floor Count:2

Palazzo Dorell[2] (French: Palais d'Aurel[3]) also known as Bettina Palace,[4] is a 17th-century Palladian[1] palace located in Gudja, Malta.[5] [6]

History

The property was built during the Order of St. John by Count Ignatius Francesco Moscati Falsoni Navarra as a family home and country residence in 1670.[7] [8] The palace was bought in 1760 by Pietro Paolo Falzon d'Aurelle (English: Dorell) Falzon,[9] [1] and is interchangeably named for him and his daughter Marchesa[10] Lady Elisabetta Testaferrata Dorell.[11] [12]

The palace served as the headquarters for the British forces, under General Graham, during the French blockade (1798–1800).[2]

The interior of the building has some of the ceiling covered in frescoes which were painted by Antonio Grech (1758-1819), known as "Naici" (Antonaci).[13]

It was the last building used by the British, with the consent of the owners, before having to leave Malta in 1979 on Freedom Day.[14]

Since the 19th century the place became limitedly open to the public with special permission of the owners, starting from the Patron Lorenzo Galea.[15]

Gardens

The Xlejli Tower and a chapel are located inside the walled private gardens of the property.[16] [3] At the garden one can still find a small cemetery where British armymen who died during the French occupation of Malta are buried.[17] The garden is considerably very large compared to other general houses. It has a French style.[18] [19]

Modern

Today the palace is a private residence and is not open to the public.

The palace is scheduled as a grade 1 scheduled property by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands (NICPMI).[2]

Other Dorell residences

The aristocratic French family d'Aurelle had other notable properties in Malta. The palace should not be confused with Palazzo Bettina[20] [21] [22] in Birgu, nor Casa Dorell in Valletta;[23] which both belonged to the same family once.[24]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: Malta - Guide Verdi Europa. 9 September 2017. Touring Editore. 9788836533176. 9 September 2017. Google Books.
  2. Web site: Palazzo Dorell. https://web.archive.org/web/20151121035830/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/01168.pdf. dead. 21 November 2015. National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 5 June 2015. 28 December 2012.
  3. Zammit Tabona, Kenneth (2015). "The Age of Elegance". Miranda Publishers.
  4. Gozo Tourism Association, "Dorell Palace and Xlejli Tower Overview in Gudja, Malta", Island of Gozo.
  5. Web site: Palazzo+Dorell,+Vjal+It-Torri,+Gudja,+Malta Map. Maps7.com. 9 September 2017.
  6. Web site: Diploma Long Essays - International Institute for Baroque Studies - University of Malta. Um.edu.mt. 9 September 2017.
  7. Book: Gaul, Simon. Malta, Gozo and Comino. 9 September 2017. New Holland Publishers. 9781860113659. 9 September 2017. Google Books.
  8. Web site: The Very Long Hiccup and The Army Medical Services in Malta. Col W Bonnici. L/RAMC. Maltaramc.com. 9 September 2017.
  9. Web site: Il-Gudja : History. Visitmalta.com. 2017-09-09.
  10. Web site: Lord Nelson's romance with Malta - Henri Diacono - Guest Experience Manager - Membership - Azure. Azure.com.mt. 9 September 2017. 21 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151121102211/http://www.azure.com.mt/words-from-henri/lord-nelson-romance-with-malta.html. dead.
  11. Book: Piro, Nicholas De. Valletta: A City Built by Gentlemen for Gentlemen. 20 July 1997. Miranda Publications. 9789990985009. 20 July 2018. Google Books.
  12. Web site: Welcome to the Maltese Islands & Discover Cottonera. Discovermalta.org. 9 September 2017.
  13. Web site: The frescoes at 'Palazzo Paolina'. Timesofmalta.com. 20 July 2018.
  14. News: The end of an ERA at Palazzo D'Aurel, Gudja. Malta Independent. PressReader . 1 April 2017 . 20 July 2018.
  15. Web site: Guida dell'isola di Malta e sue dipendenze preceduta da un breve cenno d'istoria e corredata da una carta topografica delle medesime. J.. Quintana. 20 July 2018. per cura e spese di J: Quintana. 20 July 2018. Google Books.
  16. Web site: Gudja in Malta. My Guide Malta. 9 September 2017.
  17. Cassar Pullicino, Joseph. "The Order of St. John in Maltese Folk-Memory" . Melitensia. p. 157.
  18. “The Palazzo itself is a simple symmetrical building, rather French in feeling, with an open forecourt and low side wings, both unusual features in a Maltese country house. It was built about 1660 and extended and decorated later.....”.
  19. Web site: Country Life. 30 September 1979. Country Life, Limited. Google Books.
  20. Web site: L'Abbiti. Melitensiawth.com. 2017-09-09.
  21. Web site: Bettina Palace Guesthouse | Chris Briffa Architects. https://web.archive.org/web/20200106175900/https://archello.com/project/bettina-palace-guesthouse. 6 January 2020.
  22. Web site: Historic buildings Palazzo Bettina in Birgu. https://web.archive.org/web/20200106180105/http://www.immobilien-realestate.com/product_info.php?info=p63560_Historic-buildings-Palazzo. 6 January 2020.
  23. Web site: Malta: An Account and an Appreciation. Sir Harry. Luke. 9 September 2017. Harrap. 9 September 2017. Google Books.
  24. Web site: Palazzo Bettina. Allied Newspapers. Ltd. Timesofmalta.com. 9 September 2017.

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