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Malta faced a turning-point in its architectural history when the Knights of St John occupied the islands in 1530. For the first time ever, European building styles were introduced on a grand scale in Malta. With the help of Italian engineers and architects, the Order of St. John founded today's capital Valletta in 1566 and built the impressive fortifications around the Grand Harbour. When the economy recovered at the end of the 17th century, Malta enjoyed a second building boom with architects like Charles Francois de Mondion and Romano Carapecchia being brought over to update the plain Mannerist style to the more ornate Baroque style

Naxxar is a village in the central north of Malta, with a population of about 13,319 people. The Naxxar Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories

Palazzo Parisio is located in the heart of Naxxar, just opposite the church. Palazzo Parisio was built in the 19th century by Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna as his own private residence, with lavish artistic designs, decorated ceilings and murals, rare objects d’art, refined architecture and charming gardens. The Ballroom of Mirrors has an elaborate and lively style, making it an ideal location for weddings and other important events.The splendid gardens are the only private gardens in Malta that are open to visitors. They have a classic baroque style that combines symmetry and Mediterranean flowers all year long.

Palazzo Parisio EntranceGuiseppe Scicluna, a banker and financier was a noted philanthropist, a President of the Maltese Camera Pontificia

The entrance hall

The entrance hall

The entrance hall

The entrance hall

The four marble statues in the entrance hall symbolize the four seasons

The entrance hall

The Main Hallway

The Main Hallway

The Main Hallway

The works on this palace started in 1898 and was completed in 1906.

The Main Hallway

The Main Hallway

The marble is superb and vast and was shipped over from Carrara and Siena in Italy, the beautiful light fittings were made in Murano and superby designed furniture was made for each and every room.

Entrance halls ceiling

Entrance hall ceiling

Entrance halls ceiling

Entrance halls ceiling

Entrance hall ceiling

Entrance halls ceiling

Entrance halls ceiling

Grand Staircase

Going up the staircase one will notice the longest piece of single marble coping in Malta. There is an amusing story related to this piece of marble. The first time it was shipwrecked between Italy and Malta, the second, as it was being carried up the stairs was dropped and it broke in half, third time lucky the British artillery were called in to insure the transport with the help of forty mules!

Grand Staircase

The armoury

The armoury

The three paintings above

the doors symbolises

when Napoleon was here

briefly in the 1800’s, when St. Paul was shipwrecked

and the famous great siege of

1565

Saint Paul's voyage and shipwreck

The floor design was inspired from a floor in the Vatican

The Red Room (Sala Lombarda)

The Red Room (Sala Lombarda)

The Red Room (Sala Lombarda)

The Red Room (Sala Lombarda)

The Red Room (Sala Lombarda)

The Red Room (Sala Lombarda)

The Red Room (Sala Lombarda)The walls are not damask or wallpaper but in fact hand painted. The two paintings either side of the mirror are by Maltese artist Francesco Zahra.

The Pompeian Dinning Room

The Pompeian Dinning Room

The tablemats and napkins are Maltese

lace

The Pompeian Dinning RoomThe two paintings either side symbolise Neapolitan life. The English company royal Doulton designed the dinner service for the Marquis

The bedroomHand painted walls; the fringing work is stucco. Mosaic floor

The bedroomHand carved furniture imported from Milan, designed specifically for the likes of the Marquis

The family chapel

The family chapel

19th century Italian prie-Dieu (kneeling pews) with matching chairs inlaid with ivoryThe altar had belonged to the Spanish Grand Master of the Order of St.John Nicolas Cotoner

The Marquis' Study

The walls are hand-painted

The Marquis' StudyGiuseppe Scicluna, Corinne

Abela Pulis

The Marquis' Study

The deep fringing going around the room is all stucco (gypsum) work. In the four corners on this ceiling symbols of four continents

The Marquis' Study

The Billiard Room has hand painted walls

The Music Room

The LadiesMusic Room

This is the only room which has silk moire on walls. Every piece of furniture has a symbol of a musical instrument on it as do the corners of the ceiling. The baroque fireplace is Carrara marble

The Ladies Music Room Ceiling

The Music Room

The Ladies Music Room

The floor mosaic has the eight-pointed Maltese cross

The Ballroom

The Ballroom was designed in honour of the Order of St. John. On either side of the chandeliers on the ceiling are the symbols of astrology and science, music, poetry and art, and lastly the nautical one.

Text: InternetPictures: Internet Sanda Foişoreanu Gabriela CristescuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Mary Spiteri - Adagio - Malta Song 2010