|
Palazzo Parisio - a unique 19th century Palace in the
heart of the Mediterranean.
Palazzo Parisio is in the very heart of the ancient village
of Naxxar in the heart of the island of Malta. This great house is
exceptional in more sense than one: it is lavish and sumptuous and in it we
shall be able to see, not just another palace of the legendary and
romanticized Knights of St John, but, quite differently, the ultimate
memorial of the ambitions, aspirations and pretentions of a 19th century
noble family.
Palazza Parisio was originally built in 1733 by the Portuguese Grand Master
Manoel de Vilhena in the ancient village of Naxxar. It is a privately owned
Palazzo belonging to the noble family Scicluna. The Palazzo is a cultural
and architectural interest unique on the island.
The Palazzo first came into the Scicluna family when Marquis Giuseppe
Scicluna purchased the property in 1898 and totally refurbished this noble
country house into a regal stately home, blending Italian and Maltese art
with the best artisans of the time who created this magnificient Palazzo as
you see it today.
It has various art treasures. The marble is remarkable, everything is vast,
the gilded Ballroom of mirrors, a superb Pompeiian hall and dining room,
the finest stucco work and hand decorated walls. It is also a Palazzo of
outstanding splendour with two very beautiful baroque walled gardens,
including a lovely orangerie - a miniature Versailles!
Hall. As you enter the great portals you will immediately get a feel
for the size of the Palazzo. Look up and see the cherubs carrying the
banner of welcome with the Latin word 'salve'. The four life-size marble
statues are Italian and representing Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Staircase. The staircase is a legend in its own right: each step in
one piece of solid marble, as is the coping stone over the banisters: one
long piece of solid marble!
Carriage Room. The Scicluna carriage must be the finest survivor of
any carriage of the 19th century on the island. The carriage is English in
construction and is known as a glass Landau or a five light Landau.
Orangerie. The Orangerie, which you can admire to the left of the
beautiful gardens has a particular and unique roof structure which gives
the appearance of being made of timber, but in fact is turned in stone.
There is a secretly lit 'grotto' lined in rustic natural rocky stone, which
holds an extremely intricate watering system.
Sala Lombarda. The paintings here represent the traditional state of
a Maltese drawingroom from the 18th to the latter part of the 19th Century.
Saints must abound, also, there is a good flittering of large mythological
strenuous looking canvasse combined with the usual portraits filling in
more wall space.
Ballroom. This room, this blaze of confidence, this Hall of Mirrors
is unique in Malta for its sheer, clear and vivid opulence.
Billiard Room. A good British billiards table and everything to go
with it: observe the charming belle époque lamps and the deck of high
seating, where the gentlemen could watch a good game, take part if they so
wished and generally relax with their peers.
Other majestical rooms at the Palazzo Parisio, include the Dining Room, the
Study, a Victorian bedroom and more.
|
   
|
