The Banca Giuratale (or Municipal Palace) is a Baroque building in Mdina’s main street. This building was designed by de Mondion and built in 1726 by Grand Master de Vilhena to house the offices of the civil administration of the island. The façade is quite imposing and heavily decorated, as was common during this period.
The civil administration held the district court in this building until 1831 after which it was leased to private individuals. It was taken over by the Education department in 1881 and was used as a secondary school until 1969. It was then leased to the Sisters of St Dorothy for a short period of time and functioned as a private school. Today, the Banca Giuratale houses part of the national archives, specifically court proceedings from 1530 to 1900. An exhibition of portraits of Maltese personalities is on permanent display in the hallways of this palace.
I have my own special ties with this building since I went to school there for 3 short years in the mid-1970s.
Main Staircase
Banca Giuratale – Facade
Banca Giuratale
Villegaignon Street
Mdina
Opening hours:
Monday 8.00a.m. – 2.00p.m. / 3.00p.m. – 7.30p.m.
Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday 8.00a.m. – 2.00p.m.
Thursday 10.00a.m. – 2.00p.m.
That building is intricately decorated. I love the facade. It exudes the memories of the time it was built.
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous. Lucky you for having spent so much time there!
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive place to have studied! As usual, your images are just stunning.
ReplyDeleteThat was a beautiful school you went to !
ReplyDeleteWow...stunning Loree..love it all... the first and the third shots are so powerful and mesmerizing....and the last one as well ..fabulous!! Thanks for always sharing such beauty!
ReplyDeleteVictoria
Hi Loree, What a cool place to go to school! Lovely architecture :)
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