Hostel de Verdelin
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Hostel de Verdelin
| image = 300px
| image_caption = Façade of the Hostel de Verdelin
| coordinates = {{coord|35|53|58.1|N|14|30|50.4|E|display=inline}}
| alternate_names = Palazzo Verdelin
Casa delle Colombe
| status = Intact
| building_type = Palace
| architectural_style = Siculo-Spanish Baroque{{cite book|date=1967|title=Atti del Congresso di storia dell'architettura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9XTrAAAAMAAJ&q=siculo-spagnol|publisher=Centro di studi per la storia dell'architettura|language=it|page=455|volume=15}}
| location = Valletta, Malta
| address = Nos. 108–114 Archbishop Street[http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=11070&l=1 Protection of antiquities].
| current_tenants = Police Department
| namesake = Jean-Jacques de Verdelin
| completion_date = {{circa}} 1650s or 1660s
| owner = 12 private owners
| material = Limestone
| floor_count = 2
| architect = Francesco Buonamici (attributed)
}}
The Hostel de Verdelin, also known as Palazzo Verdelin or the Casa delle Colombe, is a palace in Valletta, Malta. It was built in the mid-17th century for the knight Jean-Jacques de Verdelin, and it is an early example of Baroque architecture in Malta. The palace currently houses a police station and a restaurant.
History
The Hostel de Verdelin was built in around the 1650s (some sources claim it was built in the 1660s,{{cite web|title=Valletta – Other Monuments|url=http://romeartlover.tripod.com/Malta15.html|website=romeartlover.tripod.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401040723/http://romeartlover.tripod.com/Malta15.html|archive-date=1 April 2016}}{{better source needed|date=February 2019}} such as 1662Gaul, Simon (2007). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Fevix8jSqg0C&dq=Andrea+belli+palazzo+parisio&pg=PA116 Malta, Gozo and Comino]. New Holland Publishers. p. 116. {{ISBN|1860113656}}. or 1666,D., Chambry and Trump, David H. (1978). [https://books.google.com/books?id=3kIKAQAAIAAJ&q=Verdelin+valletta Nagel's Encyclopedia-Guide]. Nagel Publishers. p. 115. {{ISBN|2826307118}}, {{ISBN|9782826307112}}. but in 1662 the premises were already handed over to Paul de Verdelin from the original owner{{cite journal|last1=Denaro |first1=Victor F. |title=More houses in Valletta |journal=Melita Historica |date=1961 |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=5–6 |url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.03(1960-63)/MH.3(1961)2/orig01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323112933/http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.03%281960-63%29/MH.3%281961%292/orig01.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}) for Jean-Jacques de Verdelin, a French knight of the Order of St. John who was the nephew of Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle and who held a number of important positions, including Commander of the Artillery, Auditor of Accounts and Grand Commander.{{cite journal|last1=Degiorgio|first1=Stephen|title=Palaces and Lodgings of the Knights of St John at Malta|url=https://www.academia.edu/4009231|website=academia.edu|date=2010|access-date=23 March 2016}} The palace is attributed to the Italian architect Francesco Buonamici, who is sometimes credited for introducing Baroque architecture in Malta.
Following Verdelin's death in 1678, the palace was inherited by his brother Jean-François de Verdelin, who was also a knight. It subsequently became property of the Order, and it was used as a hostel. It was transferred to the government during the French occupation of Malta in 1798,{{cite news|title=One World – Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (97)|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090314/opinion/one-world-protecting-the-most-significant-buildings-monuments-and.248733|work=Times of Malta|date=14 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323112047/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090314/opinion/one-world-protecting-the-most-significant-buildings-monuments-and.248733|archive-date=23 March 2016}} and at this point, two coats of arms on the façade were defaced.{{cite web|title=About us|url=http://www.michaelsinvalletta.com/about-us/|website=Michael's|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624020553/http://www.michaelsinvalletta.com/about-us/|archive-date=24 June 2015}}
File:Calvert Jones, Strada Vescovo, Valletta, Malta 1846.jpg
The prominent part of the building seen from St George Square housed the Vicary's Hotel during the British period, which was one of the first hotels in Malta.{{cite journal|last1=Cassar Pullicino |first1=Joseph |title=Some 19th century hotels in Malta |journal=Melita Historica |date=1981 |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=109–124 |url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.08(1980-83)/MH.8(1980)2/orig03.pdf }} The building subsequently housed the Civil Service Sports Club.Mallia-Milanes, Victor (1988). [https://books.google.com/books?id=fwygAAAAMAAJ&q=Verdelin+valletta The British colonial experience, 1800-1964: the impact on Maltese society]. Mireva Publications. p. 278. {{ISBN|1870579011}}, {{ISBN|9781870579018}}. For some years it hosted the Circle known as La Giovane Malta.{{cite web|url=http://melitensiawth.com/incoming/Index/Melita%20Historica/MH.14(2004-07)/MH.14(2005)2/04.pdf |title=History |publisher=melitensiawth.com |access-date=2020-01-28}}
The other part of the building was leased to the government in 1962. Before that, it had housed the Banco di Roma and the Malta Government Savings Bank. It was then converted into a police station.{{cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/property-owners-demand-keys-of-valletta-police-station.766161 |title=Property owners demand keys of Valletta police station |publisher=Timesofmalta.com |date=1940-08-22 |access-date=2020-01-28}}
The building's façade was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.{{cite web |title=Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939. |url=https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=2627 |website=Malta Environment and Planning Authority |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419101304/https://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=2627 |archive-date=19 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}
The palace currently belongs to 12 private owners, including Marco Gaffarena, the heirs of Antonio Zammit and the firm B. Tagliaferro and Sons Ltd. The owners have been demanding that the property be vacated since October 2014. Part of the building housed a restaurant called Michael's for a period of about two years around 2014.{{cite news|title=The Renaissance of Valletta|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151203/business-news/The-Renaissance-of-Valletta.594402|work=Times of Malta|date=3 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323114455/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151203/business-news/The-Renaissance-of-Valletta.594402|archive-date=23 March 2016}} It now houses a restaurant named Gracy's.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/cocktails-fit-for-a-king-at-palazzo-de-verdelin.758920|title=Cocktails fit for a king at Palazzo de Verdelin|date=22 December 2019 }}
File:Hostel de Verdelin, restaurant.jpeg
During the Gaffarena scandal in 2015, journalist Caroline Muscat revealed{{cite news|title=Caroline Muscat to lead PN election campaign|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161012/local/caroline-muscat-to-lead-pn-election-campaign.627754|date=12 October 2016|work=Times of Malta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013142826/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20161012/local/caroline-muscat-to-lead-pn-election-campaign.627754|archive-date=13 October 2016}} that the government gave Gaffarena €1.65 million in land and cash for his part ownership of another palace in Valletta, the opposition accused the government that it also intended to expropriate the Hotel de Verdelin. These claims were denied by home affairs minister Carmelo Abela,{{cite news|last1=Vella|first1=Matthew|title=Gaffarena in company of others who demanded Verdelin eviction in 2014|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/56047/gaffarena_in_company_of_others_who_demanded_verdelin_eviction_in_2014#.VvJ8quIrLIU|work=Malta Today|date=11 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930173206/http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/56047/gaffarena_in_company_of_others_who_demanded_verdelin_eviction_in_2014|archive-date=30 September 2015}} although it was later revealed that the Land Department had sent architects to draw up a valuation report of the palace between February and April 2015.{{cite news|last1=Camilleri|first1=Ivan|title=Government architects sent to make palazzo valuation|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150817/local/government-architects-sent-to-make-palazzo-valuation.580996|work=Times of Malta|date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222052724/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150817/local/government-architects-sent-to-make-palazzo-valuation.580996|archive-date=22 December 2015}}
The palace is scheduled as a Grade 1 national monument by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. It was restored between September and December 2017.{{cite news|last1=Grech|first1=Denise|title=Palazzo Verdelin restored ahead of Valletta 2018|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171227/local/verdelin.666609|work=Times of Malta|date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227215322/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171227/local/verdelin.666609|archive-date=27 December 2017}}
Architecture
File:L'Hostel de Verdelin.jpeg
The Hostel de Verdelin is an early example of Baroque architecture in Malta.Gaul, Simon (2007). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Fevix8jSqg0C&dq=verdelin+1666&pg=PA325 Malta, Gozo and Comino]. New Holland Publishers. p. 325. {{ISBN|1860113656}}. Its ornate façade has significant influences from the Spanish Baroque style, which is unusual in Malta, where Italian and French Baroque are more common. Its façade is said to be one of the finest in VallettaDe Piro, Nicholas (1997). [https://books.google.com/books?id=wbFQAAAAYAAJ&q=Palazzo+Raimondo+de+Sousa+y+Silva Valletta: A City Built by Gentlemen for Gentlemen]. Miranda Publications. p. 110. {{ISBN|9990985006}}, {{ISBN|9789990985009}}. and described as being an impressive example of artistic fabric in urban Malta.Pickard, Robert (ed.) (2012). [https://books.google.com/books?id=tCQnZmNmpvoC&dq=Verdelin+valletta&pg=PA234 Policy and Law in Heritage Conservation]. Spon Press. London and New York. p. 234. {{ISBN|1135158037}}, {{ISBN|9781135158033}}. The ornate windows are the centerpiece of the façade.Bugeja, Lino; Buhagiar, Mario; Fiorin, Stanley (1993). [https://books.google.com/books?id=_47iAAAAMAAJ&q=Verdelin+valletta Artistic, architectural and ecclesiastical aspects]. Malta University Services. p. 450. {{ISBN|9990944024}}. {{ISBN|9789990944020}}. In the 19th century, during the British period, closed timber balconies replaced earlier structure that originally consisted of stone balconies.Tanti, Christine. [http://maltain360.com/page.aspx?ref=110009154 St. George's Square]. maltain360.com. Retrieved 19 July 2016. An artistic interpretation of de Verdelin in form of a painting is found within the building.Paolo Bonavia (1880) [https://archive.org/details/aguidetomaltese01godwgoog A Guide to the Maltese Islands]. Digitized by Godwin, George Nelson (2007). p. 102. The palace is the largest of three adjacent buildings which belonged to Verdelin.
See also
==Further reading==
- Family tree of de Verdelin, in Franc̜ois Alexandre Aubert de La Chesnaye-Desbois, Badier (1774), [https://books.google.com/books?id=EJ5YAAAAMAAJ&dq=Paul+de+Verdelin&pg=PA752 Dictionnaire de la noblesse, contenant les généalogies, l'histoire & la chronologie des familles nobles de France, l'explication de leur armes, & l'état des grandes terres du royaume ...: On a joint à ce dictionnaire le tableau généalogique, historique, des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, & une notice des familles étrangères, les plus anciennes, les plus nobles & les plus illustres ...]. Le veuvne Duchesne. p. 751-754.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Hostel de Verdelin}}
{{Valletta}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Valletta
Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 17th century
Category:Baroque palaces in Malta
Category:Spanish Baroque architecture
Category:Limestone buildings in Malta
Category:Defunct hotels in Malta