Palazzo Spinola

Spinola Palace was built in 1688 by Fra Paolo Rafel Spinola, Grand Prior of Lombardy, on land acquired by his brother Frangisku Nupuljan Spinola de Roccaforte, Marquise of the Holy Roman Empire.

Above the main door to the Palace there is an inscription in Latin which states:

“Fra Paolo Rafel Spinola, Grand Prior of Lombardy, after serving the Order, on land and sea, built this beautiful palace and gardens for people’s recreation.”

His nephew Bailiffs Fra Gwanni Battista Spinola, after commanding the galleys, became Admiral of the fleet of the Order. Later he was appointed Ambassador of the Order to the Court of King Philip V of Spain, to the King of Sicily and to the Court of Pope Innocent XII. In 1733 the Palace was passed on to him and he enlarged and embellished it.

 The Palace and its gardens were the venue for cultural and traditional activities organized by the Bailiff.

 It is said that Lt. Governor Sir Harry Luke uncovered a buried sculpture of a satire, which used to be affixed to the belvedere’s wall and that once a year the Bailiff used to serve free wine to local through it.

 In 1798 the Palace was damaged during the French invasion. It was restored in 1826 when the property was passed on to the Church. During the First World War (1914-1918) the Palace was used as a military hospital.

After this period through lack of maintenance, the Palace fell in ruins; the authorities took over it in 1975.

 In 1984 restorations was taken in hand. The gardens were rebuilt and through hard work and perseverance, after two years Spinola Palace was again resplendent in its original glory, bearing to fruition the dream of the Grand Prior of the Order:

“For the People’s Recreation.”