Spinola Palace (St. Julian's)
| Spinola Palace | |
|---|---|
| Palazz ta' Spinola | |
 View of the Spinola Palace | |
| Former names | Forrest Hospital |
| Alternative names | Palazzo Spinola |
| General information | |
| Status | Intact |
| Type | Palace |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Location | St. Julian's, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°55′14.5″N 14°29′27.3″E / 35.920694°N 14.490917°E |
| Construction started | 1688 |
| Renovated | 1733 |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Romano Fortunato Carapecchia (1668-1738)[1] |
Spinola Palace (Maltese: Palazz ta' Spinola), also known as Palazzo Spinola, 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 palace was also used as a military hospital between 1860 and the early 20th century, and was known as Forrest Hospital.
Another palace known as Spinola Palace is located in Valletta.[2]
History
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 in fact it was used for cultural activities.[3]
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 Carapecchia.[4] 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.[3]
In 1860, the palace was leased to the British military for £20 a year. It was converted into a military hospital called Forrest Hospital.[5] The palace was still in use as a hospital in World War I.[6] It was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.[7] In the 1940s, it was used as a shelter for people whose homes had been destroyed by aerial bombardment in World War II.[8]
The palace eventually fell into a state of disrepair, before being taken over by the government in 1975. It was restored between 1984 and 1986.[9] It was restored once again in the early 21st century, and the crown on the clock, which had been missing since 1798, was reconstructed.[10]
The cellar of the palace now houses L-Għonnella Restaurant.[9]
Architecture
Palace
The palace is a large Baroque building with three stories. The façade contains a large sculpted clock under a crown.
The palace 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.[8]
Gardens
The palace is surrounded by gardens, which are now open to the public. The gardens were embellished by the Tumas Group between 2006 and 2007. During this renovation, the gardens' baroque character was retained, but a modern twist was added.[11][12]
Church
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.[3] 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.[13][14]
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.[15] 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.[16]
References
- ↑ "Carapecchia's project for Spinola Palace, St. Julian's, Second View, front elevation", The Courtyard Gallery, The Samuel Courtauld Trust, London.
- ↑ "Palazzo Spinola - Valletta". Sant Fournier. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- 1 2 3 Guillaumier, Alfie (1987). Bliet u Rħula Maltin (in Maltese). Valletta: Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd. p. 715–717.
- ↑ Bugeja, Lino (27 December 2015). "17th-century bishop's summer house in ruins". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016.
- ↑ "Staff Medical Officers of the Malta Garrison 1860". maltaramc.com. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ Darmanin, Denis A. (4 May 2010). "A forgotten memorial". Times of Malta. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 "St Julians and Paceville (Malta Nightlife)". heartofmalta.com. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- 1 2 "Palazzo Spinola". L-Ghonnella Restaurant. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ "Spinola Palace - St. Julians". Restoration Directorate. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ↑ Farrugia, Massimo (5 March 2006). "Spinola Palace garden to be rebuilt". Times of Malta. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ "President inaugurates Spinola Palace garden". Times of Malta. 11 February 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ "Church of the Immaculate Conception" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ Scerri, John. "San Giljan". malta-canada.com. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ "San Giuliano Restaurant" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ "Home". San Giuliano Catering Ltd. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
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