Palazzo στο Haz-Zebbug

Set in the outskirts of Haz-Zebbug, this Palazzo is a magnificent example of the late Baroque typology of grand residences owned by the Maltese nobility. Built in the mid 18th Century it continued to serve as a patrician residence right-up to the end of the 20th Century. The elaborate complex consists of the grand Palazzo and its imposing gardens on one side. The Palace is articulated in an architectural grammar, typical of the period. It is built on two floors, has an imposing central doorway flanked by service rooms on either side of the ground floor. The main residence of the family was in the expansive high-ceiling halls of the piano nobile on the first floor. Unique to the palace, was the incorporation in its ground floor of a private theatre for the literary and musical entertainment of the residents and their guests. This is an extraordinary feature that still contains much of its original wall paintings and decorative elements. The finesse and sophistication of the entire complex is also found in the detailing, such as the decorative stone carvings and wrought iron work. Some of the halls have their vaults depicted with Trompe-l'oeil decoration of fictive architectural motives that serve to give the illusion of decorative space placed in perspective. Such decorative ensembles belonged to the late baroque period and were often used in grand residences. The scale of the piano nobile with its height to width relationships belies the intent to make the residence one of the finest on the island. Access to the garden is from a wide gated entrance, that originally served the carriages. The garden is laid out in sections that have paths joining one part to the other. Its formal elements combine with rustic features that shape the splendour of what originally was one of the finest garden in this part of the island. The Palazzo stands in its magnificence and grandeur as testimony of the elegance of Maltese heritage and cultural patrimony.