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Casa Rocca Piccola is the
lived-in home of an ancient Maltese family, whose history goes back over
400 years to an era in which the Knights of Malta, having successfully
fought off the invading Turks in 1565, decided to build themselves a
prestigious city to rival European capitals and at the same time a
fortification to defend the island from any future attacks. Palaces were
designed for prestige and aesthetic beauty in most of Valletta's carefully
planned streets, and great bastion walls fortified the new 16th century
city.
As your guide will explain, Casa Rocca Piccola is more than a museum. It is
a living relic of a past way of life burdened with the pretensions and
aspirations of a Maltese lineage. The palace houses various memorabilia -
some are interesting for their aesthetic beauty, others have a true
historical value whilst some pieces contribute to the overall scene and
will drag you into a different era.
Climbing the marble staircase you will approach the 8 principal rooms on
the piano nobile. Dominating the top landing are the various coats of arms,
murals and chandeliers dating back to the 18th century and the work of
famous artists such as Ramiro Cali.
The principal rooms include the family chapel, a small version of the
typical Maltese church; the Four-Poster Bedroom where the show piece is the
bed. This bed is particularly important, as one of the 9 children born in
it is now a candidate for sainthood. He was the founder of the Missionary
Society of St Paul which has flourished in Canada, Australia, Peru and
other parts of the world. The bedroom also boasts a bobblin lace bedcover
which took more than 2 years to finish, Venetian blow glass, a 16th century
wooden chest and a golden sedan chair made for the Knight of Malta Fra'
Victor Nicolas de Vachon Belmont who was Captain General of the Galleys
between October 1764 and January 1766.
Other attractions include the Green Room with its outstanding pieces of
Maltese furniture, such as the magnificent marquetry bureau-bookcase made
in 1640; the library, the Prophyry Room with its original 400 year old
soffit; the Blue Room boasting works of Annigoni, the Rathmells and Caruan
Dingli, and others; the Dining Room laid out with silver and china and
Maltese lace, tablemats embroidered with the family coat of arms, and much
more.
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