Malta Culture 365

The following is a list of stately houses and other palazzos which survive in Malta. Most of these buildings are used as residences or are private property and thus may not be visited except externally. Nonetheless, they are worth having a look at! This page is still under construction and will be updated from time to time. Palazzo Stagno, Qormi Palazzo Gomerino, Rabat Villa d'Argens, Gzira San Anton Palace and gardens, Attard Verdala Palace, Rabat Selmun Palace, Mellieha Il-Kunvent (Id-Dar tas-Soru), Zabbar Villa Curmi, Zejtun Villa Curmi, Triq Sant' Anġlu, Żejtun Palazzo Francia, Lija Villa Preziosi, Lija Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar Villa Bologna, Attard Palazzo Pescatore, San Pawl il-Bahar Villa Gourgion, Lija Villa Buleben, Zebbug Villa Frere, Pieta Villa Bologna, Marsaskala Villa Pisani, Birzebbuga Palazzo Dorell, Gudja Palazzo Bettina, Birgu Villa Agatha, Floriana Palazzo Manoel (Villa Leoni), St. Venera Villa Bonici, Sliema Villa Grognet

Ħaż-Żebbuġ is one of the older Maltese villages which is composed of three small, older hamlets which were Ħal Mula, Ħal Muxi and Ħal Dwin. These three hamlets were joined when a certain Filippo from Catania in Sicily donated part of his land which at the time were predominantly olive groves and money in order for a parish church to be built which would be dedicated to St. Philip of Agira, the patron saint of his native hometown. In the late 18th century, the village was conferred with the title of Citta Rohan by Grandmaster Emanuel de Rohan-Polduc  in 1777. This title was conferred against a promise to construct two arches, one at each end of the city. One of these arches was ever constructed, which is called De Rohan Arch but is colloquially known as Il-Bieb il-Ġdid or the New Gate to this day. De Rohan arch, served as the main entrance to the city from 1798 until the mid 20th century when Vjal il-Ħelsien was created which street still serves as the main entrance to the centre o