Spinola Palace, St Julian's Explained

Spinola Palace
Native Name:Palazz ta' Spinola
Native Name Lang:mt
Coordinates:35.9207°N 14.4909°W
Alternate Names:Palazzo Spinola
Spinola House
Villa Spinola
Former Names:Forrest Hospital
Status:Intact
Building Type:Palace
Architectural Style:Baroque
Location:St. Julian's, Malta
Start Date:1688
Renovation Date:1733
Material:Limestone
Floor Count:3
Architect:Romano Carapecchia[1]

Spinola Palace (Maltese: Palazz ta' Spinola; Italian: Palazzo Spinola), also known as Spinola House[2] and Villa Spinola,[3] is a palace in St. Julian's, Malta. It was built in the 17th century by Fra Paolo Rafel Spinola, a knight of the Order of St. John, and was enlarged in the 18th century. The later construction was designed by Romano Carapecchia, which is considered a masterpiece, with its back having an elegant clock that is a unique feature to secular Baroque architecture in Malta.

The palace was adaptively converted to a military hospital, serving between 1860 and 1922, and was known as the Forrest Hospital. It later served for a number of purposes, including a post-World War II shelter for the homeless, a short-lived Museum of Modern Art and the Ministry for Tourism office. From late 2007 till present, the building actively hosts the Headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM).

At the time of its construction, a number of ancillary buildings were also built. These consisted of a church, two boathouses, a belvedere and a building serving as stables. They still survive today belonging to different private owners, with the palace belonging to the Maltese government. Originally the building had large extensive gardens, including baroque gardens and wineyards, however these were minimized to an enclosed back garden and a small front public garden.

History

The first Spinola Palace was built in 1688 by the knight Fra Paolo Raffaele Spinola, the Grand Prior of Lombardy. According to a Latin inscription above the main entrance, the palace and its surrounding gardens were built "for the people's recreation", and it was used for cultural activities.[4] [5] Since the building's erection on site it was occasionally the summer residence of the Grandmaster, generally for the celebration of the Ta' Lapsi Feast, and this was a tradition that was continued uninterruptedly throughout till the expulsion of the Order.[6]

The palace was eventually passed on to Fra Giovanni Battista Spinola, the nephew of the original owner, and he enlarged and embellished it in 1733 under the direction of the architect Romano Fortunato Carapecchia.[7] [8] The palace was damaged during the French occupation of Malta in 1798, and the crown on top of the clock on the façade was symbolically destroyed, so as to signify the Order's expulsion from Malta. The palace was restored in 1826, and it was later acquired by the Church.[4] In the 1830s it was used as a residence by Artist Charles Allingham (c.1778-1850).[9]

In 1860, the palace was leased to the British military for £20 a year.[10] It was modified and converted into a military hospital, and was inaugurated as the Forrest Hospital in October of that year.[11] It was also sometimes known as Forrest House,[12] and was named for Dr. John Forrest who was the Inspector for Hospitals of the period.[13] [14] It served generally, but not exclusively, for soldiers suffering forms of venereal diseases and hosted at least twenty patients at a time.[15] On a normal basis it could serve for 42-bedded patients,[16] [3] divided into nine wards at different floors,[17] but during crisis it had served up to 186 patients at a time.[18] Following the cholera epidemic of 1865, when three patients there died, a sanitary report asserted that the building, being a non-purposely built and antique residence, was not suitable as a hospital.[19] Since its inauguration as a hospital until at least the end of the 19th century, the building had serious issues related to a bad drainage system and ventilation.[20] By 1900 the accommodation at the hospital grew with the use of tents at its gardens.[21] Improvements were carried out, and were ready by 1906, on the sewage system.[22] The palace was still in use as a hospital in World War I.[23] The building saw its end as a hospital in August[24] 1922.[25] [26] This became only possible with a military hospital opening in Mtarfa.[27]

It was included on the Antiquities List of 1935.[28] [29] In the 1940s, it was used as a shelter for people whose homes had been destroyed by aerial bombardment in World War II.[30] The palace eventually fell into a state of disrepair,[31] before being taken over by the government in 1975.[32] It was restored between 1984 and 1986[5] when at this point it was projected to host the Museum of Modern Art at the upper floors, but after its opening it was unsuccessful at attracting a reasonable number of visitors.[33] [34] [35] It appeared on a postal stamp circa 1991, with the missing crown.[36] In 1996 plans were made for the building to be converted and be used by the Ministry for Tourism.[37] The ministry started to operate from the building on 9 November 1998,[38] [39] [40] but on 18 March 2002 the ministry was moved to Auberge d'Italie in Valletta. The Enforcement Directorate of the Malta Tourism Authority was then transferred there, using the palace as centre of operations until 2007. In July 2007, two MTA Enforcement Officials were assaulted just across the road from the palace while on duty.[41] [42] [43] The building was restored once again between 2006 and 2007[44] and the crown on the clock, which had been missing since 1798, was reconstructed in 2012.[45] Restoration work took place at different stages, the last was in 2013.[46] [47]

In late 2006 Malta submitted interest in hosting the Headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM).[48] For this purpose, the main areas of the palace were converted and put available for the parliament's requirements.[49] [50] It was inaugurated and handed over by Prime Minister of Malta Edward Fenech Adami on 22 November 2007.[51] [52] A plaque at the building was unveiled by Prime Minister Adami to commemorate this event.[53] Between the night of 12 and 13 March 2009 unknown perpetrators have illegally entered the building causing damage to the premises and committing a robbery of a number of items used by the PAM.[54] [55] A renewal for a continuous use of the premises was signed on 10 December 2014,[56] by the Minister for Foreign Affairs George William Vella and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, at Palazzo Parisio in Valletta.[57]

The building is not open to the general public,[58] except its cellar, which houses L-Għonnella Restaurant.[5] The palace was well known for its large amounts of wine secured in its cellars during the Order of St. John.[59]

Architecture

Palace

The palace is a large Baroque building with three stories. The façade contains a large sculpted clock under a crown.[1] According to Giovanni Bonello, the palace is the very first building to hold a clock as a central feature and the only to have it on a non-religious baroque façade in Malta.[60] The façade is generally lit at night.[61] The palace is considered a masterpiece of Maltese architecture.[62]

The palace stands on a hill with extensive views that were diminished over the years.[63] It originally overlooked and gave its name to Spinola Bay. In the 20th century, the area surrounding the palace began to be built up, and today the palace is barely visible from the bay, being obscured by apartments and other modern buildings.[30] [64] Spinola Bay, formerly St. Julian's Bay, is now reputed for its number of prime restaurants and fine dining.[65]

Gardens

The palace originally was surrounded by large extensive gardens open for the entertainment of the public, but little remains of them.[66] Part of the demolished gardens consisted of a wine yard.[67] [68] There are now two gardens, one at the front and one at the back, with only the front garden open to the public. The front garden was embellished by the Tumas Group between 2006 and 2007. During this renovation, the garden's Baroque character was retained, but a modern twist was added.[69] [70] It is prohibited to consume alcohol at any time at the garden.[71] The private back garden is not accessible to the public and is enclosed by a high wall.[72] They are named, and generally known, as the Spinola Gardens.[73]

Church

See main article: Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, St. Julian's.

When Fra Paolo Rafel Spinola built the palace, he also built a church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception nearby. The first stone of the church was laid on 16 June 1687, and it was consecrated on 10 September 1688.[4] [74] The church was enlarged and its façade was rebuilt in 1914. The church is on the list of the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[75] [76]

Boathouses

When the palace was built, two boathouses were constructed on the rocky shore of Spinola Bay. The boathouses are rather plain, and have two arches leading to a wide open area.[77] The boathouses are now restaurants, with the one on the left called San Giuliano and the one on the right called Raffael. Both restaurants are managed by San Giuliano Catering Ltd.[78]

Belvedere and stables

Cut away from the palace's original garden is the Spinola Belvedere.[79] Today the gardens on this side of the palace are built up with modern roads and housing estates.[80] The belvedere is currently under renovation.[81] [82]

Along the way is the building of the stables that were restored in the 1990s to accommodate the Sardinella Restaurant[83] and since 1993 has been occupied by a Pizza Hut restaurant,[49] the first to open in Malta.[84] A further refurbishment was carried in 2006, when the restaurant was given a blend combination of old and modern design.[85] Pizza Hut celebrated their 20 years anniversary in Malta at the building in 2013.[86]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.courtauldprints.com/image/1097904/carapecchia-romano-fortunato-1668-1738-carapecchias-project-for-spinola-palace-st-julians-second-view-front-elevation "Carapecchia's project for Spinola Palace, St. Julian's, Second View, front elevation"
  2. Great Britain Colonial Office (1861). The Reports Made for the Year 1861 to the Secretary of State Having ..., Part 2. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 168.
  3. Cassar, Paul (1965). Medical History of Malta. London: Wellcome Historical Medical Library. p. 99. .
  4. Book: Guillaumier. Alfie. Bliet u Rħula Maltin. 1987. Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd.. Valletta. 715–717. mt.
  5. Web site: Palazzo Spinola . L-Ghonnella Restaurant . 29 August 2015 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160814165446/http://www.ghonnella.com/palazzo.htm . 14 August 2016 .
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20160827135454/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-04-20/newspaper-lifestyleculture/Il-Festa-Ta-Lapsi-6736134104 Il-Festa Ta’ Lapsi
  7. Book: De Lucca, Denis. 1999. Carapecchia: Master of Baroque Architecture in Early Eighteenth Century Malta. Midsea Books. 188. 9789990993004.
  8. News: Bugeja. Lino. 17th-century bishop's summer house in ruins. Times of Malta. 27 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160501094042/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151227/life-features/17th-century-bishop-s-summer-house-in-ruins.596995. 1 May 2016.
  9. Web site: Some thoughts on Charles Allingham. 4 May 2020 .
  10. Web site: Staff Medical Officers of the Malta Garrison 1860 . maltaramc.com . 29 August 2015 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160416025903/http://maltaramc.com/staffmo/s1860_1869/smo1860.html . 16 April 2016 .
  11. Great Britain's Parliament and House of Commons (1863). Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons and Command. Volume 34. HM Stationery Office. p. 235.
  12. https://books.google.com/books?id=lf3QAAAAMAAJ&q=spinola+gardens+Saint+Julian's Malta Medicall History
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316172512/http://malta.embassy.gov.au/files/mlta/02%20ANZAC%20experience%20-%20Healing.pdf The Anzac experience in Malta
  14. Godwin, George Nelson (1880). A Guide to the Maltese Islands. Paolo Bonavia. p. 150.
  15. Debono, Charles (19 April 2015). Malta turns into the ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’ as Gallipoli ends in stalemate. The Malta Independent. Retrieved on 10 August 2016.
  16. Book: Savona-Ventura. Charles. Contemporary Medicine in Malta [1798–1979]]. 2005. P.E.G. Ltd. Malta. 201. 9781326648992.
  17. Web site: Military Hospitals of the Malta Garrison . maltaramc.com . 20 January 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014941/http://www.maltaramc.com/articles/contents/reghosp.html . 17 November 2015 .
  18. http://www.travelmalta.com/aztours/ANZAC%20experience%20-%20Arrival.pdf Anzac experience in Malta
  19. John Sutherland (1867). Report on the Sanitary Condition of Malta and Gozo, with Reference to the Epidemic Cholera in the Year 1865. G.E. Eyre and W. Spottiswoode. p. 55.
  20. https://books.google.com/books?id=i7hW1olJeXwC&q=Forrest+Hospital+Malta Report for the year (Great Britain. Army Medical Services)
  21. https://books.google.com/books?id=1hrjAAAAMAAJ&q=Forrest+Hospital+patients+Malta Sessional Papers, Volume 39
  22. Book: Sessional Papers . 1906 . H.M. Stationery Office . en.
  23. News: Darmanin. Denis A.. A forgotten memorial. 29 August 2015. Times of Malta. 4 May 2010.
  24. http://www.maltaramc.com/articles/contents/reghosp.html Military Hospitals of the Malta Garrison
  25. Mirabelli. Terence. 2015. The ANZAC experience in Malta - Arrival. 6. The Island Publications Ltd. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316172504/http://malta.embassy.gov.au/files/mlta/one%20ANZAC%20experience%20-%20Arrival.pdf. 16 March 2016. Ta’ Xbiex.
  26. http://www.travelmalta.com/aztours/ANZAC%20experience%20-%20Healing.pdf Anzac experience in Malta
  27. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/23704/1/CSV-Military%20and%20Naval%20Hospitals%20in%20Malta%20in%20the%20last%20two%20Centuries.PDF
  28. http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=11070&l=1 Protection of antiquities
  29. Web site: Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939. . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160419101304/https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=2627 . 19 April 2016 . dead .
  30. Web site: St Julians and Paceville (Malta Nightlife). heartofmalta.com. 29 August 2015.
  31. Administrative agencies (1981). Reports on the Working of Government Departments for the Year 1981. Malta Information Division. p. 91.
  32. Administrative agencies (1975). Reports on the Working of Government Departments 1975. Malta Information Division. p. 101.
  33. https://books.google.com/books?id=qCUkAQAAIAAJ&q=museum+of+modern+art+spinola+St.+Julians Reports on the Working of Government Departments for the Year 1981
  34. http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2009-08-09/opinions/a-museum-of-modern-art-in-malta-228928/ A Museum of modern art in Malta
  35. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090322/letters/modern-art-museum-in-valletta.249805 Modern Art museum in Valletta
  36. http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-378525088/stock-photo-malta-circa-a-stamp-printed-in-malta-shows-spinola-palace-st-julian-s-circa.html MALTA - CIRCA 1991: a stamp printed in Malta shows Spinola Palace, St. Julian's, circa 1991
  37. DOP Malta (1996). Reports on the Working of Government Departments for the Year 1996. Department of Information. p. 498.
  38. http://www.doi-archived.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/1998/11/pr1980.asp Il-Ministeru ghat-Turizmu trasferit ghal San Giljan
  39. http://www.doi-archived.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/1999/03/pr483.asp Il-Proposti ghall-Izvilupp tal-White Rocks Holiday Complex jinfethu fit-8.4.1999
  40. http://www.doi-archived.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2002/01/pr036.asp DISKORS TA’ L-ONOR. MICHAEL REFALO, MINISTRU GHAT-TURIZMU, FL-OKKAZJONI TAL-PREZENTAZZJONI TAR-RAPPORT DWAR IT-TOURISM CARRYING CAPACITY TAL-GZEJJER MALTIN - MINISTERU TAT-TURIZMU, PALAZZO SPINOLA, SAN GILJAN - IL-HAMIS 17 TA’ JANNAR 2002
  41. Web site: Tourism enforcement officers assaulted in Paceville. Times of Malta. 31 August 2007 .
  42. Web site: The Auberge d'Italie. Malta Tourism Authority. https://web.archive.org/web/20150905193129/http://www.mta.com.mt/page.aspx?id=56. 5 September 2015.
  43. News: Grima. Noel. The Fine Arts Museum saga comes full circle. The Malta Independent. 17 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131120072150/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-11-17/news/the-fine-arts-museum-saga-comes-full-circle-3210838018/. 20 November 2013.
  44. http://www.doi-archived.gov.mt/EN/archive/diaryofevents/2007.pdf DOI
  45. Web site: Spinola Palace - St. Julians . Restoration Directorate . 17 January 2016 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160201213456/https://restoration.gov.mt/en/otherprojects/ongoingprojects/Pages/Spinola-Palace---St--Julians.aspx . 1 February 2016 .
  46. https://tourism.gov.mt/en/culture-press-releases/press-releases/Pages/Press-Releases-Pages/2013CulturePressReleasesPages/10October2013/PR2388.aspx NIĊĊELEBRAW IL-WIRT STORIKU TAGĦNA
  47. https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/Publications/Documents/Annual%20Reports/Ministry%20for%20Tourism.pdf Annual Report Ministry for Tourism
  48. Web site: Malta offers to host PAM secretariat. Allied Newspapers. Ltd. timesofmalta.com. 8 September 2006 . 20 January 2017.
  49. Book: Rix, Juliet. Malta and Gozo. 3 December 2015. Bradt Travel Guides. 9781784770259. 20 January 2017. Google Books.
  50. http://www.pam.int/?m=multimedia&id=14 PALAZZO SPINOLA - PAM HQ INAUGURATION
  51. Web site: Mr Speaker Meets Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean secretary general - The Malta Independent. independent.com.mt. 20 January 2017.
  52. Radi (22 November 2016). Palazzo Spinola, St. Julian's. Department of Information. No. 1082. Retrieved on 10 August 2016.
  53. Web site: Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. https://web.archive.org/web/20170315120746/http://www.pam.int/welcome.asp?m=multimedia&id=14#105. dead. 15 March 2017. 15 March 2017.
  54. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090313/local/pam-headquarters-broken-into.248672 PAM headquarters broken into
  55. https://web.archive.org/web/20160926032158/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2009-03-21/news/mediterranean-day-celebrated-with-colloquy-222107/ Mediterranean Day Celebrated with colloquy
  56. https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/Publications/Documents/Annual%20Reports/2014/MFA%20Annual%20Report%202014.pdf Annual Report 2014. Ministry for Foreign Affairs
  57. DOI (11 December 2014). signs the Protocol to Extend the Agreement on the Judicial Status of the Parliamentary Assembly of The Mediterranean in the Republic of Malta. Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Retrieved on 10 August 2016.
  58. Web site: Paceville u San Ġiljan - Air Malta. airmalta.com. 20 January 2017.
  59. Web site: Department of Information. gov.mt. 20 January 2017.
  60. Bonello, Giovanni (2000). Histories of Malta: Figments and fragments. Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti., . p. 93.
  61. https://books.google.com/books?id=FzeTVgOkeRQC&dq=elegant+palace+in+st+julians&pg=PA179 Malta
  62. https://books.google.com/books?id=nTenmaCNnWcC&q=Paolo+Rafael+de+Spinola Malta
  63. https://books.google.com/books?id=XYdoAAAAMAAJ&q=spinola+palace+architecture+st+Julians Malta
  64. https://books.google.com/books?id=b4ZoAAAAMAAJ&q=spinola+palace+architecture+st+Julians A Chronicle of Twentieth Century Malta
  65. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150211/opinion/Raising-quality-of-tourism.555610 Raising quality of tourism
  66. Nelson, Nina (1978). Malta. Bratsford. p. 115.
  67. http://www.doi-archived.gov.mt/EN/press_releases/2007/02/pr0179.asp INAWGURAT IL-ĠNIEN TAL-PALAZZ TA’ SPINOLA WARA PROĠETT TA’ MMODERNIZZAR U TITJIB
  68. http://www.sangiulianorestaurant.com/en/gallery/gallery/5/history-.htm History
  69. News: Farrugia. Massimo. Spinola Palace garden to be rebuilt. 29 August 2015. Times of Malta. 5 March 2006.
  70. News: President inaugurates Spinola Palace garden. 29 August 2015. Times of Malta. 11 February 2007.
  71. http://www.doi-archived.gov.mt/en/Bye-Laws/2008/0801645%20Alcohol%20San%20Giljan.pdf 2008
  72. Blasi, Abigail. Malta e Gozo. Guide EDT/Lonely Planet. p. 119. . .
  73. https://books.google.com/books?id=FzeTVgOkeRQC&dq=Spinola+Palace+WWII&pg=PA177 Malta
  74. Ferris, Achille (1881). Memorie dell' inclito Ordine gerosolimitano esistenti nelle isole di Malta. Tip. di. C. Busuttil. p. 171.
  75. Web site: Church of the Immaculate Conception. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214848/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00797.pdf. dead. 23 September 2015. National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 29 August 2015. 27 August 2012.
  76. Web site: Scerri. John. San Giljan. malta-canada.com. 29 August 2015.
  77. Web site: San Giuliano Restaurant. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214302/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/01217.pdf. dead. 23 September 2015. National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 29 August 2015. 28 December 2012.
  78. Web site: Home. San Giuliano Catering Ltd.. 29 August 2015. 21 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221175922/http://www.sangiulianorestaurant.com/en/home.htm. dead.
  79. https://web.archive.org/web/20120608013450/http://www.maltahomes.net/property-details/ref-S2225/House-of-Character/St.-Julians/ House of Character in St. Julians for Sale
  80. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20051029/letters/no-praise-for-st-julians-council No praise for St Julians council
  81. https://web.archive.org/web/20160326062855/http://www.arcstudio.com.mt/gallery/restoration_conservation/belvedere/ Belvedere St. Julian's - 2008
  82. https://web.archive.org/web/20160925194654/http://www.fineandcountrymalta.com/print_details.php?propertyID=82188&networkID=8&ref=0&images=&refType= Property reference: STJ-006791
  83. https://books.google.com/books?id=OickAQAAIAAJ&q=pizza+hut+st+julians Reports on the Working of Government Departments for the Year ...
  84. https://web.archive.org/web/20161024080622/http://company.pizzahut.com.mt/about-us/ About Us
  85. http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2006-05-31/business-news/Facelift-For-Pizza-Hut-St-Julian's-outlet-92145 Facelift For Pizza Hut St Julian's outlet
  86. http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/lifestyle/food/29142/everyone-is-a-winner-at-pizza-hut-20130816#.V2pj1ZBHmK0 Everyone is a winner at Pizza Hut!

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Spinola Palace, St Julian's".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.