Palazzo Dorell

Palazzo Dorell[2] (French: Palais d'Aurel[3]) also known as Bettina Palace,[4][lower-alpha 1] is a 17th-century Palladian[1] palace located in Gudja, Malta.[9][10]

Palazzo Dorell
Front façade of Palazzo Dorell
Location within Malta
Former namesBettina Palace, Villa Dorell, Villa Bettina, Palais d'Aurelle
General information
StatusIntact
TypeHunting lodge
Palace
Architectural stylePalladian architecture[1]
LocationGudja, Malta
Coordinates35°51′2.27″N 14°30′25.29″E
Named forPietro Paolo Dorell Falzon
Completed1670
OwnerGino, Baron di San Marco
Technical details
MaterialLimestone
Floor count2
Xlejli Tower

History

The property was built during the Order of St. John by Count Ignatius Francesco Moscati Falsoni Navarra as a family home and country residence in 1670.[11][12] The palace was bought in 1760 by Pietro Paolo Falzon d'Aurelle (English: Dorell) Falzon,[13][1] and is interchangeably named for him and his daughter Marchesa[14] Lady Elisabetta Testaferrata Dorell.[15][16]

The palace served as the headquarters for the British forces, under General Graham, during the French blockade (1798–1800).[2]

The interior of the building has some of the ceiling covered in frescoes which were painted by Antonio Grech (1758-1819), known as "Naici" (Antonaci).[17]

It was the last building used by the British, with the consent of the owners, before having to leave Malta in 1979 on Freedom Day.[18]

Since the 19th century the place became limitedly open to the public with special permission of the owners, starting from the Patron Lorenzo Galea.[19]

Gardens

The Xlejli Tower and a chapel are located inside the walled private gardens of the property.[20][3] At the garden one can still find a small cemetery where British armymen who died during the French occupation of Malta are buried.[21] The garden is considerably very large compared to other general houses. It has a French style.[22][23]

Modern

Today the palace is a private residence and is not open to the public.

The palace is scheduled as a grade 1 scheduled property by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands (NICPMI).[2]

Other Dorell residences

The aristocratic French family d'Aurelle had other notable properties in Malta. The palace should not be confused with Palazzo Bettina[24][25][26] in Birgu, nor Casa Dorell in Valletta;[27] which both belonged to the same family once.[28]

Further reading
  • Chambry, D.; Trump, David H. (1978). Malta. Nagel Publishers. p. 153. ISBN 9782826307112.
  • Crosthwait, Anne. "Stately Homes: Palazzo d'Auriel". 5 (3). Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Old Mdina cathedral survives in many places

Notes
  1. Also known asVilla Bettina,[2] Villa Dorell[5] (Villa d'Aurel[6]), Xlejli Palace[7] and among the nearby community as simply 'The Palace' (Il-Palazz),[8]

References
  1. Malta - Guide Verdi Europa. Touring Editore. 9 September 2017. ISBN 9788836533176. Retrieved 9 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. "Palazzo Dorell" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  3. Zammit Tabona, Kenneth (2015). "The Age of Elegance". Miranda Publishers.
  4. Gozo Tourism Association, "Dorell Palace and Xlejli Tower Overview in Gudja, Malta", Island of Gozo.
  5. "Splendor of Malta -". Bdlbooks.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  6. "Chapter123". 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. Evans, John Davies (9 September 1971). The prehistoric antiquities of the Maltese Islands: a survey. Athlone Press. ISBN 9780485110937. Retrieved 9 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  8. Gaul, Simon (2007), "Malta, Gozo and Comino", New Holland Publishers, p. 229-230.
  9. "Palazzo+Dorell,+Vjal+It-Torri,+Gudja,+Malta Map". Maps7.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  10. "Diploma Long Essays - International Institute for Baroque Studies - University of Malta". Um.edu.mt. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  11. Gaul, Simon (9 September 2017). Malta, Gozo and Comino. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 9781860113659. Retrieved 9 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  12. L/RAMC, Col W Bonnici. "The Very Long Hiccup and The Army Medical Services in Malta". Maltaramc.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  13. "Il-Gudja : History". Visitmalta.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  14. "Lord Nelson's romance with Malta - Henri Diacono - Guest Experience Manager - Membership - Azure". Azure.com.mt. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  15. Piro, Nicholas De (20 July 1997). Valletta: A City Built by Gentlemen for Gentlemen. Miranda Publications. ISBN 9789990985009. Retrieved 20 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  16. "Welcome to the Maltese Islands & Discover Cottonera". Discovermalta.org. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  17. "The frescoes at 'Palazzo Paolina'". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  18. "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". Pressreader.com. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  19. Quintana, J. (20 July 2018). "Guida dell'isola di Malta e sue dipendenze preceduta da un breve cenno d'istoria e corredata da una carta topografica delle medesime". per cura e spese di J: Quintana. Retrieved 20 July 2018 – via Google Books.
  20. "Gudja in Malta". My Guide Malta. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  21. Cassar Pullicino, Joseph. "The Order of St. John in Maltese Folk-Memory" Archived 17 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Melitensia. p. 157.
  22. “The Palazzo itself is a simple symmetrical building, rather French in feeling, with an open forecourt and low side wings, both unusual features in a Maltese country house. It was built about 1660 and extended and decorated later.....”.
  23. "Country Life". Country Life, Limited. 30 September 1979 – via Google Books.
  24. "L'Abbiti" (PDF). Melitensiawth.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  25. "Bettina Palace Guesthouse | Chris Briffa Architects". Archived from the original on 6 January 2020.
  26. "Historic buildings Palazzo Bettina in Birgu". Archived from the original on 6 January 2020.
  27. Luke, Sir Harry (9 September 2017). "Malta: An Account and an Apreciation". Harrap. Retrieved 9 September 2017 – via Google Books.
  28. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Palazzo Bettina". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
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