Inquisitor's Palace

Not to be confused with the Palace of the Holy Office in the Vatican. For the palace in Siġġiewi, see Girgenti Palace. For the palace in Mexico City, see Palace of the Inquisition
Inquisitor's Palace
Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur

View of the palace
Former names Castellania
General information
Status Intact
Type Palace
Location Birgu, Malta
Coordinates 35°53′13.2″N 14°31′21.3″E / 35.887000°N 14.522583°E / 35.887000; 14.522583
Construction started 1530s
Renovated 17th-18th centuries
Technical details
Material Limestone
Design and construction
Architect Nicolò Flavari
Renovating team
Architect Francesco Buonamici
Francesco Sammut
Website
Heritage Malta

The Inquisitor's Palace (Maltese: Palazz tal-Inkwiżitur, colloquially tal-Inkisitur)[1] is a palace in Birgu, Malta. It was built in the 16th century as a courthouse, and it was used the inquisitor's residence from 1574 to 1798. It is now open to the public as the National Museum of Ethnography.

History

The Inquisitor's Palace was originally built in the 1530s as the Castellania, the civil law courts of the Order of St. John. The design is attributed to the architect Nicolò Flavari. The Castellania moved to new premises in the newly built capital city of Valletta in 1571.[2]

The tribunal at the Inqusitor's Palace

Following the establishment of the Roman Inquisition in 1574, the building became the inquisitor's residence. The first inquisitor who took up residence in the palace was Pietro Dusina.[3] The building also housed the inquisition's tribunal and prisons.[4]

Over the years, the palace underwent a number of modifications. Its façade was rebuilt in 1660 by Francesco Buonamici and Francesco Sammut. It was again enlarged in the early 18th century, and the main staircase was built in 1733. Today, very little remains of the original Castellania structure due to the later alterations.[5]

The building was used as the residence of the inquisitor until the inquisition was abolished in 1798 during the French occupation of Malta. It was subsequently used as a hospital, mess house and a refugee camp.[6]

The palace was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.[7]

Present day

Central area of the palace

The Inquisitor's Palace is one of the few surviving palaces of its kind around the world, since many were destroyed during and after the French Revolution, or were left to decay over the centuries.[8] The summer residence of Malta's inquisitor, Girgenti Palace, has also survived.

Today, the building houses the National Museum of Ethnography, which is managed by Heritage Malta. Its collection aims to portray the salient aspects of Malta's urban religious culture, placing particular focus on the early modern period and the impact of the Inquisition on Maltese society through the centuries.

These two related themes are elucidated by means of a display that brings together the liturgical calendar with the most popular cults and devotions on the island.

The museum is also open to school-related outings and tourist excursions.

The palace is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[5]

Gallery

Inquisitor's Palace

References

  1. ↑ Cassar Pullicino, Joseph (October–December 1949). "The Order of St. John in Maltese folk-memory" (PDF). Scientia 15 (4): 163. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Inquisitor’s Palace". Times of Malta. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Sciberras, Sandro. "Maltese History - D. The Roman Inquisition in Malta" (PDF). St Benedict College. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Inquisitor’s Palace". visitMALTA.com. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Inquisitor's Palace" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Malta Inquisitor’s Palace". malta.com. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939.". Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "The Inquisitor’s Palace". Heritage Malta. Retrieved 18 July 2015.

External links

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