Palazzo Parisio

During my Erasmus internship in Malta, around 3 years ago I came across a spectacular building, on the way to work. Many months have passed until I decided to actually pay a visit inside. But let's rewind the story a bit...

When I first arrive in Malta I was lucky enough to find quickly a rent place which was also super close to my internship company. For those who don't know, Malta is a an extremely small island in the Mediterranean with it's capital Valletta. From one of the island to another you can make trip that will take around 40 minutes by car, is that small. The neighborhood in which I found the apartment is called Naxxar.

Naxxar is a residential neighborhood one of the best on the island with impressive huge churches and one of a kind architecture buildings. I really enjoyed my time here. I was going in the morning at my internship work place and afternoon I spent at my part time job which was very close one to another. Everyday I was walking near this building called Palazzo Parisio, which catch my attention from first day. I wanted to pay for a visit from beginning but I guess always I was so busy to do that. And this happen for a while when finally I said to my best friend in Malta, Neringa, let's go and visit this place.

First glimpse

From outside is looking like a small palace, with valet parking and security at the entrance. So I said to myself it must be something exquisite inside, worth our time.

When we entered there was a nice old woman sitting in what seemed to be a reception. She asked us if we are here for lunch or tea, or just visiting. This is when I found out this amazing place has also other annexes different from the interior.

She give us some information about this palace, it actually hosts inside a very elegant and exclusive restaurant, a garden, a tea place and an area for weddings as well. After we decided to visit the interior of the palace, the nice lady she gave us a flier and a audio guide and she showed us which way should we start our visit. The fee was 12 euros with student discount.

The interior

Just around the corner from the main entrance the tour started, an old carriage and a vintage piano showed us the way to a long staircase leading to the first floor. Our headphones are on, English guide are telling us the history about the palace and the royal family that lived here.

As we were walking upstairs i was paying attention very good on my audio tape. The story says that a very wealthy Maltese guy bought the Palace around 1890. And he had a vision for the palace so he hired prestige Italian architects and painters to redecorate and make this place a living work of art.

At the end of the stairs a big hallway is in front of me with the statues you may see in the above picture. What is more impressive is the ceiling which showcase a beautiful wall painting with some bas-relief decoration. The amount put in those small details is absolutely overwhelming and you just want to sit there for minutes and minutes and admire the painting.

What it may seem in the background of the painting is actually the capital of Valletta with it's big citadel. Up are the knights of Malta with the Maltese flag.

The ballroom

From the hallway two entrances which seem to led us to a ballroom and another private room catches my eye. I taught it cannot be something more impressive than this hallway, but I was so wrong, the best was yet to come!

First thing when I entered the ballroom was an enormous crystal chandelier, anything like that I have seen in my life, it was beyond amazing. The walls were covered by golden decorations with very detailed paintings.

I guess the pictures speak by themselves how great detailed work the Italian architectures put in, and this say a lot about the owner's vision. A man with great taste, that I know for sure.

It was hard to go out from this amazing room, I said to Neringa for sure we will be late, one lunch break is not enough to discover all in this amazing palace.

Moving on, in what seems to be the next room a more private, which seemed to be a dormitory, the furniture, the painting of the wall everything was so elegant and vintage.

How amazing is this coffee table, all gold.

On the second floor was another dormitory with a near room for a small library and a office, which my audio guide referred as the master bedroom of the owner. Next to it was a special game room with a enormous billiard table.

The dinning room

Here showes the most impressive and enormous dinning table I have ever seen in my life. Crystal glasses and golden plates, silver spoons and that royal feeling.

It suddenly remind me of my hometown of Transylvania and the castle of Dracula, same obscure feeling. It's by far the most impressive thing that I visited in Malta.

The gardens

The interior of the palace is ending after the second floor but my audio guide was telling us please proceed to the garden of the palace.

Here is a map of the Palazzo's gardens.

As I was hearing very clearly in the informations that they referred the gardens are as a second Versailles and the most impressive gardens in all Malta. Rare species of plants and flowers may be found inside. Small improvized pools and an artificial lake, colorful trees and a wedding taking place there, this is what I found outside in the garden.

The ceremony took place in the same time we were visiting, but the garden was still open for visitors. Of course we walked on the sides and we admired the entire thing.

Such a great place to spend your time even if you just come to read a book while you admire the incredible place.

After the main garden as you can see in this picture above there is another small garden in front. Swans, koi fish, turtles and signing birds, I can imagine why this place it's perfect for holding a wedding. It is indeed the most exclusive place in Malta.

The restaurant

The restaurant offers daily breakfast, lunch and dinner from morning until 10pm. Reservation is required. In the picture above you may see the back door of the restaurant. We couldn't enter inside of course.

My guide was saying that one time Oprah had dinner here and actually she spent a day inside the Palazzo. Plus more famous people.

There is also another area for serving tea, which is between 3pm and 5pm... Nowadays the place is conducted and owned by mother and daughter ancestors of the royal Maltese family.

Before finishing our tour the receptionist told us there is also a small boutique with souvenirs and jewelries if we want to take a look. Of course prices was beyond the normal price but the shop was interesting. Perfumes, luxury soup, Maltese souvenirs and postcards were all impressive.

In conclusion

I totally recommend Malta as a summer destination and Palazzo Parisio as the number one on the list touristic places to visit there. Don't miss a dinner reservation as well in the most exclusive restaurant in Valletta. I postponed for such a long time to visit this place, but it was all worth at the end I can say. After my first visit I went there numerous times and the feeling was just like at the first day, I was impressed all over again!