The Development of Domestic Space in the Maltese Islands from the Late Middle Ages to the Second Half of the Twentieth Century

George A. Said-Zammit

• Publisher: Archaeopress
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781784913915
• eBook ISBN: 9781784913922
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Archaeology
• Index: Social Sciences

This study traces and analyses the evolution of domestic space in Maltese vernacular and 'polite' houses from medieval to contemporary times. The houses under review range from humble buildings of modest size, materials and design, like farmhouses or those for the less affluent towndwellers, to buildings of grand design, like townhouses and palazzi. Owing to the complex nature of the Maltese houses a combination of enquires and a variety of sources was necessary to achieve a holistic picture. This included fieldwork in different parts of the islands, extensive research work in local archives, libraries and museums, an analysis of a sample of literary sources, national censuses and works-of-art, as well as methods of spatial analysis (Space Syntax). One of the major achievements obtained in this research concerns the development of the native dwelling. The field surveys and archival research have demonstrated that the evolution of the native dwelling was very much influenced by the political, social and economic changes that occurred locally during the period under review. In particular, it was observed that architectural and stylistic changes in the elite houses occurred at a faster rate to suit fashion, in line with what occurred in other European countries, while changes in peasant houses were slower and more sporadic as these adhered to their vernacular idiom for a longer time. Houses often served as a symbol of class and social status. The dwelling's size and architectural style, the configuration of domestic space as well as the house furniture and contents were among the main indicators which, between the late Medieval Period and the first half of the 20th century, distinguished a wealthy from a poor dwelling. Class distinction did not occur only between houses, but also within the same building, especially in the elite dwellings. Gender was also another important aspect which directly affected the upper middle and elite Maltese houses, particularly at a time when men and women had fixed roles in society. However, the restricted space by which the lower class houses were normally characterized permitted instead the mixing of genders in work and leisure. A major shift in the relationship between the family and the house occurred in the second half of the 20th century, when the social and demographic changes of this period brought more balance between the social classes. Through the available evidence, particularly the national censuses, works-of-art, literary sources and travelogues, it was also possible to acquire knowledge about various aspects related to dining fashions, dress code, health and education in the Maltese houses. The results obtained from our Space Syntax investigations have been instrumental to acquire new knowledge and to understand better the social logic of space underpinning Maltese dwellings and settlements.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Information
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Figures
• Acknowledgements
• Chapter 1 - Introduction
• Figure 1 – Map of the central Mediterranean region indicating the location of the Maltese islands
• Figure 2 – The Maltese islands
• Figure 3 (a) and (b) – A geological map of Malta and Gozo (after Bowen-Jones et al. 1962 with adaptations in Buhagiar 2014)
• Figure 4 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the distribution of towns and villages
• Figure 5 – Population density of the Maltese islands (NSO 2011)
• Figure 6 – The Maltese islands in the early 16th century (Quintin 1536)
• Figure 7 – The Maltese islands in the first half of the 17th century (Abela 1647)
• Figure 8 – Inv. 7835-6: Peter Van der Aa, An Artist’s Impression of Għar il-Kbir, engraving, 18th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 9 – A cave settlement and part of a farmhouse at Binġemma, Mġarr (Houel 1784)
• Chapter 2 – The Maltese Islands: Society, Class, Economy and Settlements
• Figure 10 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the location of Mdina, Birgu and the Gozo Citadel
• Figure 11 – A hypothetical delineation of the Roman town (known as Melite polis) and its reduction to medieval Mdina (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 12 (a) and (b) – Some of the narrow roads of Mdina
• Figure 13 – A 16th century artistic impression of Mdina (after De Lucca 1995a)
• Figure 14 - Fort St Angelo dominated by the medieval Castrum Maris at the top
• Figure 15 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the three medieval castles and their suburbs
• Figure 16 – A deserted hamlet known as Ir-Razzett tal-Qasam in the parish of Mellieħa, the earliest phase of which dates back to the late medieval period. The dwellings are connected together by a central passageway. Courtesy of Koperattiva Rurali Manikat
• Figure 17 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the distribution of cave settlements
• Figure 18 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the likely distribution of built-up and cave settlements in the late 14th century
• Figure 19 – Distribution of built-up settlements in the Maltese islands (c. 1420)
• Figure 20 – Distribution of built-up settlements in the Maltese islands (c. 1530)
• Figure 21 – The Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu (turned into a Baroque style building in the 17th century)
• Figure 22 (a) and (b) – The bastions of Valletta and Fort Ricasoli
• (16th century building but restored in the 18th century)
• Figure 23 - The Auberge of Castille at Valletta
• Figure 24 – Antoine Favray, Dr. Nicola Giovanni Muscat, oil painting, 18th century. Private collection. (In Degiorgio and Fiorentino 2004)
• (built between 1697 and 1702)
• Figure 25 – St John’s Co-Cathedral (built between 1573 and 1578)
• Figure 26 – The Mdina Cathedral
• Figure 27 – A fresco by Matteo Perez d’Aleccio found in the Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta, showing Birgu (extreme right) as it was in 1565 (second half of the 16th century). Courtesy of Heritage Malta.
• Figure 28 – Senglea which was originally sheltered by Fort St Michael and landward defences (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 29 – An aerial view of Mdina
• Figure 31 – The fortifications in the Grand Harbour: 1540-65 (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 32 (a) – Inv. 31187-88: Vincenzo Lucini, La Nuova Città e Fortezza di Malta Chiamata Valletta, 1631. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta (detail of Valletta) (b) – Inv. 31233-34: Alexis Jaillot, Cart
• Figure 33 – Distribution of built-up settlements in the Maltese islands in 1800
• Figure 34 – Distribution of built-up settlements in the Maltese islands in the early 20th century
• Figure 35 – Distribution of built-up settlements in north Malta in the early 20th century
• Figure 36 – Aerial view of Mġarr (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 37 – Aerial view of part of Mosta showing the late 19th and early 20th century urban development (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 38 – Distribution of built-up settlements in western Malta in the early 20th century
• Figure 39 – Distribution of built-up settlements in the Harbour region in the early 20th century
• Figure 40 – Distribution of built-up settlements in south-east Malta in the early 20th century
• Figure 41 – Distribution of built-up settlements in Gozo in the early 20th century
• Figure 42 – Aerial view of the Harbour region (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 43 – Distribution of built-up settlements in the Maltese islands in the late 20th century
• Figure 44 – Aerial view of central Gozo (Source: Google Earth)
• Chapter 3 – Maltese Domestic Architecture
• Figure 45 – Distribution of the surveyed houses by region and location
• Figure 46 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the distribution of the surveyed houses
• Figure 47 – Distribution of the surveyed houses by region
• Figure 48 – Distribution of the surveyed houses according to region
• Figure 49 – Surveyed houses according to the historical period
• Figure 50 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the distribution of surveyed houses by the historical period of their construction
• Figure 51 – Distribution of the surveyed houses according to the historical period
• Figure 52 – Periods of utilization of the surveyed houses
• Figure 53 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the period of utilization of the surveyed houses
• Figure 54 – Plan and elevation of a house in Valletta as recorded in Cabreo Vol. 309 f. 11 of the Archives of the Order of Malta (hereinafter referred to as AOM), 18th century. Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 55 – Number of Cabrei consulted per Archive
• Figure 56 – Number of houses recorded in the Cabrei by collection
• Figure 57 – Distribution of houses recorded in the Cabrei by region and locality
• Figure 58 – Statistical distribution of the houses recorded in the Cabrei by region
• Figure 59 - Map of the Maltese islands showing the distribution of houses recorded in the Cabrei by locality
• Figure 60 – Distribution of houses recorded in the Cabrei and the Malta Historic House Survey by region and locality
• Figure 61 – Statistical distribution of the houses recorded in the Cabrei and the Malta Historic House Survey by region
• Figure 62 - Map of the Maltese islands showing the distribution of houses recorded in the Cabrei and the Malta Historic House Survey by locality
• Figure 63 – Palazzo Stagno, Qormi: two rooms separated by an arch (MHHS House no. 15). Courtesy of palazzostagno.com
• Figure 64 – Two windows serving as a means of external communication
• Figure 65 – An example of an open staircase in a courtyard house
• Figure 66 – A spiral staircase. Courtesy of palazzostagno.com
• Figure 67 – A water colour by Stephen Spiteri showing the cave-dwelling of Is-Simblija (Saliba, Magro Conti and Borg 2002)
• Figure 68 – A farmhouse in Gozo with the economic and domestic quarters being organized on a single floor
• Figure 69 – A farmhouse at Mġarr, Malta (MHHS House no. 9). The animal quarters are situated at ground floor level, while the human quarters are located at first floor level
• Figure 70 – A cistern located in the courtyard of a house
• Figure 71 – The roof of a house with a verandah. Courtesy of the Cathedral Archives, Mdina
• Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 72 – Cabreo AOM Vol. 290 f. 55, showing houses with a pitched roof at L-Iklin (Lija), 18th century.
• Figure 73 – The centimolo of a late medieval house at the Gozo Citadel. The Folklore Museum, Gozo – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 74 – A remissa of a farmhouse in Mġarr, Malta, in a dilapidated state. The chassis of the cart is still in situ
• Figure 76 – An example of a cupboard (armarju) from a farmhouse located at L-Għammar, Gozo (MHHS House no. 4)
• Figure 77 – A restored open cupboard at Stagno Palace, Qormi. Courtesy of palazzostagno.com
• Figure 78 – A window of a late medieval house in the Gozo Citadel. The glass window (indicated by an arrow) is a later addition. The Folklore Museum, Gozo – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 79 – A room with a high ceiling in a house at Birgu
• Figure 80 – One of the ground floor rooms of a farmhouse at Is-Santi, Mġarr. The ceiling of this room rests on a set of transverse arches (MHHS House no. 8)
• Figure 81 – A ceiling supported by series of transverse wooden beams in a house at Birgu (MHHS House no. 14)
• Figure 82 – A farmhouse at Qala, Gozo. The windows on the façade are small
• Figure 84 – A muxrabija window in a rural house in Malta (Buhagiar 1991)
• Figure 86 – An iron latch fastening part of the main door of a farmhouse at L-Għammar, Gozo (MHHS House no. 4)
• Figure 87 – A communal trough from a farmhouse in Qormi (MHHS House no. 6)
• Figure 89 – The siqifa of Santa Sofia Palace, Mdina
• Figure 90 – The façade of a Baroque building at Mdina
• Figure 91 – Stagno Palace, Qormi (MHHS House no. 15)
• Figure 92 – The ground floor plan of a late medieval house at Birgu (MHHS House no. 14) (Scale 1:100)
• Figure 93 – Stagno Palace, Qormi. Two different construction techniques: wet-rubble and ashlar masonry. Courtesy of palazzostagno.com
• Figure 94 – A native girna at In-Nadur, Rabat
• Figure 95 – The interior of a girna
• Figure 96 (a) – An example of a giren complex in the limits of Baħrija, Malta (b) – The rear side of another giren complex in the limits of Mellieħa, Malta (c) – A rectangular girna enclosed by a precinct. Courtesy of Koperattiva Rurali Manikata
• Figure 97 (a) – A late medieval hovel in Baħrija, Malta. Its exterior walls are masonry built, while the interior is rock-cut
• Figure 97 (b) – The same late medieval dwelling in Baħrija: the entrance and a flight of rock-cut steps
• Figure 98 (b) – The rock-hewn interior of the same hybrid hovel in the parish of Mellieħa. Courtesy of Koperattiva Rurali Manikata
• Figure 100 – Plan of San Niklaw cave-dwelling in the parish of Mellieħa (MHHS House no. 26) (Buhagiar 2007)
• Figure 99 – A farmhouse at Baħrija, Malta, the earliest section of which (marked by two arrows) possibly dates back to the late medieval period. These rooms could originally have been an autonomous dwelling, but through time this farmhouse was extended w
• Figure 101 – The chapel of the cave-dwelling of Is-Simblija, Dingli (MHHS House no. 27)
• Figure 102 – Types of rural and urban dwellings in medieval Malta
• Figure 103 – The hamlet of Ir-Razzett tal-Qasam (Mellieħa). The cave-dwellings, which possibly formed part of the earliest phase of this settlement, are on the right, while the early modern masonry farmhouses, which constitute the last phase of developmen
• Figure 104 – An example of a deserted hamlet: Ir-Razzett tal-Qasam in the parish of Mellieħa. Courtesy of Koperattiva Rurali Manikata
• Figure 105 – Falson Palace in Villegaignon Street, Mdina (MHHS House no. 13)
• Figure 106 – The ground floor room traditionally known as “The Refectory”. The low arched doorway on the left indicates the original floor level of the house. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
• Figure 107 (a) – Plan of the ground floor of Falson Palace. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum (Scale 1:500) (b) – Plan of the piano nobile of Falson Palace. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum (Scale 1:500)
• Figure 108 – The stately rooms of the piano nobile of Falson Palace. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
• Figure 109 – The courtyard of Falson Palace. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
• Figure 110 – The bedroom of Falson Palace. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
• Figure 111 – The main door of Falson Palace
• Figure 112 – A hypothetical plan of Falson Palace, indicating the possible 15th century setup of the central courtyard (shaded in green) and the open terrace (shaded in yellow) which gave access to the piano nobile
• Figure 113 – Two 18th century houses in Rabat with a Baroque façade. Contiguous with these houses is a 17th century palazzo
• Figure 114 – Parisio Palace, Valletta (18th century)
• Figure 116 – A farmhouse in Sannat, Gozo, built in ashlar masonry
• Figure 117 – One of the rooms of an ashlar masonry farmhouse in Gozo
• Figure 118 – The façade of a house in St Paul’s Street, Valletta, dominated by a closed timber balcony on the upper floor (18th century)
• Figure 119 – An example of a terraced house in Valletta (18th century)
• Figure 121 – Plan of the ground floor of Casa Correa, Valletta, as it appears in Cabreo AOM Vol. 310 (f. 20), 17th century. Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 122 (a) – Plan of the ground floor level of Casa Leone, St Venera, as it appears in Cabreo AOM Vol. 310 (f. 38), 18th century. Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta (b) – Plan of the piano nobile of Casa Leone, St Venera
• Figure 123 – Plan of the ground floor level of Casa Marion, Valletta, as it appears in Cabreo AOM Vol. 310 (f. 12v), 18th century. Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• (b) – A tridimensional model of MHHS House no. 21
• Figure 124 (a) – Plan of the ground floor level of one of the surveyed houses in the Gozo Citadel (Scale 1:100) (late 17th or 18th century) (MHHS House no. 21)
• Figure 125 – Plan of a single-room dwelling in Valletta as it appears in Cabreo AOM Vol. 307 (f. 39v). This house also includes a cellar, which possibly served as a separate dwelling. Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 127 – Three peasant houses at L-Għammar, Gozo. The one in the middle is characterized by an embellished door frame, which contrasts with the more simple and austere door frames of the contiguous dwellings
• (b) – Plan of a courtyard village house at Żejtun (għorfa) (Scale 1:150)
• Figure 128 (a) – Plan of a courtyard village house at Żejtun (groundfloor) (MHHS House no. 16) (Scale 1:150)
• Figure 129 – A farmhouse in Qala, Gozo, showing different phases of building and reconstruction
• (18th century)
• Figure 130 – Ta’ Kola windmill in Xagħra, Gozo
• Figure 131 – House types in Malta in the Knights’ period
• (MHHS House no. 19)
• Figure 132 – Ange’s Palace, Mdina (18th century)
• (b) Plan of the piano nobile of Ange’s Palace (Scale 1:250)
• Figure 134 – The reception hall of Ange’s Palace. Courtesy of the Cathedral Archives, Mdina
• Figure 135 – The L-shaped backyard of Ange’s Palace. Courtesy of the Cathedral Archives, Mdina
• Figure 136 – A blocked doorway located in the grand staircase, which originally gave access to the mezzanine. Courtesy of the Cathedral Archives, Mdina
• Figure 137 – Part of the piano nobile of Ange’s Palace, Mdina. Courtesy of the Cathedral Archives, Mdina
• Figure 138 – The ceiling of Room 8 is characterized by wooden beams and elegant side corbels underneath. Courtesy of the Cathedral Archives, Mdina
• Figure 139 – A 19th century house in the main square of Nadur, Gozo
• Figure 140 – A late 19th/early 20th century house in Victoria, Gozo
• Figure 141 – A Neo-Gothic house in Cathedral Square, Mdina
• Figure 142 – A British style villa at Ta’ Xbiex
• Figure 143 – Local house types in the Colonial period
• (b) – Plan of the first floor of the same townhouse in Birgu (Scale 1:150) (MHHS House no. 20)
• Figure 144 – The evolution of the Maltese village between the mid-19th and the early 20th century
• Figure 145 (a) – Plan of the ground floor of a townhouse in Birgu (Scale 1:150) (19th century) (MHHS House no. 20)
• (MHHS House no. 20)
• (MHHS House no. 20) (marked by an arrow)
• Figure 146 – The façade of the townhouse in Birgu
• Figure 147– The vestibule of the Birgu townhouse
• Figure 148 – The grand staircase of the Birgu townhouse (MHHS House no. 20)
• Figure 149 – The spiral staircase of the Birgu townhouse (MHHS House no. 20)
• Figure 150 – A corridor which gives access to the rooms of the piano nobile
• Figure 151 – An open passage or internal balcony which leads to an open terrace at the back
• Figure 152 – An example of a Maltese villa in Guardamangia built in the sixties
• Figure 153 – A row of maisonettes at Tal-Qroqq, Msida, built in the sixties
• Figure 154 – A government housing estate in San Ġwann
• (b) – Plan of the first floor of the duplex maisonette at Msida (Scale 1:200) (MHHS House no. 30)
• Figure 155 (a) – Plan of the ground floor of a duplex maisonette at Msida (Scale 1:200) (MHHS House no. 30)
• Figure 156 – The dining room of the duplex maisonette (MHHS House no. 30)
• Figure 157 – The sitting and dining room of the duplex maisonette (MHHS House no. 30)
• (MHHS House no. 30)
• (MHHS House no. 30)
• Figure 158 – The kitchen of the duplex maisonette
• Figure 159 – The façade of the duplex maisonette
• Chapter 4 – The Maltese Houses: Literary Sources, Notarial Acts, Travelogues and the National Censuses
• Figure 160 – An għorfa of a Maltese razzett
• Figure 161 – Sample of notaries
• Figure 162 – An engraving published in 1848 by Lacroix depicting St Ursula Street, Valletta
• Figure 163 – Map of the Maltese islands showing the six census regions (NSO 2012)
• Figure 164 – Population of the Maltese islands between 1240 and 1967 based on historical records and the national censuses
• Figure 165 – Population density of the Maltese islands per sq km between 1240 and 1967
• Figure 166 – Families in the Maltese islands between 1851 and 1967
• Figure 167 – Average family size in the Maltese islands between 1851 and 1967
• Figure 168 – Vacant dwellings in the Maltese islands between 1861 and 1967
• Figure 169 – Inhabited dwellings in the Maltese islands between 1861 and 1967
• Figure 170 – Dwellings in the Maltese islands between 1891 and 1931 by category
• Figure 171 – Dwellings in the Maltese islands between 1948 and 1967 by category
• Figure 172 – Persons living in dwellings with a specific number of rooms between 1891 and 1967
• Figure 173 – Person per room index in the Maltese islands between 1891 and 1967
• Figure 174 – Percentage of dwellings in the Maltese islands between 1911 and 1967 by region
• Chapter 5 – Maltese Houses and Settlements Through the Artist’s Eye
• Figure 175 (a) – Inv. 30201-2: Antonio Lafreri, Ultimo Disegno Venuto Nuovamente, 16th century (detail depicting the Grand Harbour area during the Great Siege of 1565). National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta. (
• Figure 176 (a) – Inv. 31191-92: Vincenzo Lucini, L’Assedio di Malta e Batteria dell’Isola di S. Michele a di XXVIII di Giugno, engraving, 17th century (detail of the Grand Harbour). National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heri
• Figure 177 (a) – Inv. 31885-86: Francesco Villamena, Valletta Città Nova di Malta, engraving, early 17th century (detail depicting Valletta). National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta (b) – A detail from Villamena
• Figure 178 (a) – Inv. 31233-34: Alexis Hubert Jaillot, 18th century, detail of a map showing the existing local road network of Malta. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta. (b) – Inv. 31233-34: Alexis Hubert
• Figure 179 – Inv. 31303-4: Charles Brockdorff, Valletta and its Environs, lithograph, 19th century (detail depicting the Harbour region). National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 180 – Inv. 4763-64: Charles Brockdorff, Valletta and its Environs, water-colour, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 181 – Inv. 495-6: Giorgio Pullicino, View of Manoel Island, oil on canvas, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 182 – Inv. 16109-10: Charles Brockdorff, View of Auberge of Provence in the City of Valletta, Island of Malta, water-colour, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 183 – Inv. 1033-34: Michele Bellanti, Strada Vescovo, Valletta, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 184 – Inv. 1149-50: Attributed to Charles Brockdorff, Strada San Cristoforo, Valletta, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 186 – Inv. 1183-84: Michele Bellanti, Notabile from tal-Virtù, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 187 – Inv. 1185-86: Michele Bellanti, Sakkaia, Notabile, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 188 – Inv. 1007-8: Unknown Artist, Fountain at Città Vecchia, water-colour, early 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 189 – Inv. 1741-42: Michele Bellanti, Notabile, Strada Reale 1849, pen and ink, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 190 – Inv. 1009-10: Unknown Artist, Porta dei Greci, Mdina, water-colour, early 20th century. Michele Bellanti, Notabile, Strada Reale 1849, pen and ink, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Ma
• Figure 192 – Inv. 31007-8, Jean Duplessi-Berteaux, Vue d’une parte de a Cité Victorieuse à Malte, engraving, 18th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 193 (a) – Inv. 1027-28: Schranz Brothers, Piazza Sant’Anna, Floriana, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta. (b) – The main street of Floriana today. The original pjazza in the
• Figure 194 – A house in Floriana fronted by a communal arched passageway (or loġġa) as illustrated in Cabreo AOM Vol. 307 (f. 49v). Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• (b) – A detail from the same lithograph by Benucci
• Figure 195 (a) – Inv. 16021-22: Filippo Benucci, Casal Bircarcara on the Island of Malta, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 196 – Inv. 985-86: Charles Brockdorff, St. Antoine, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 197 – An aerial view of Attard, Lija and Balzan (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 198 – Unknown Artist, A Maltese Wedding, 18th century. Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum Collection. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina
• Figure 199 – Inv. 5861-62: Gianni Vella, Wedding Procession, oil on canvas, 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 200 – The main square of L-Għammar hamlet in Gozo
• Figure 201 – An open stone balcony from a house in Sannat, Gozo
• Figure 202 – Inv. 341-42: Antoine Favray, Maltese Lady Visiting her Lady Friend, oil on canvas, 18th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 203 – Antoine Favray, Dames de Malte se Faisant Visite, oil on canvas, 18th century. Courtesy of the Musée du Louvre, Paris
• Figure 204 – Inv. 29793-94: Michele Bellanti, Maltese Ladies, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 205 – An elaborate corner timber balcony in Valletta
• Figure 206 – Inv. 16113-14: Salvatore Micallef, Palazzo Falson, Mdina, water-colour, pencil and ink, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 207 – Inv. 1719-20: Michele Bellanti, Side Street Mdina, water-colour, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 208 – Inv. 30871-72: Pietro Paolo Caruana, An Artist’s Studio, water-colour, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 209 (a) – Inv. 1711-12: Charles Brockdorff, Maltese Household in Strada della Città, water-colour, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta. (b) – A cantilevered stone shelf (ħarrieġa) on the
• Figure 210 – Inv. 585-86: Edward Caruana Dingli, A Street Corner in Gozo, oil on cardboard, 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 211 – Inv. 30827-28: Michele Bellanti, Maltese Countrymen, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 212 – Inv. 31303-4: Unknown Artist, A rural couple (extracted from a 19th century map of the Maltese islands). National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 213 – Inv. 3163-64: Harold Frederick Hawkins, A Maltese Farm, water-colour, 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 214 - A hamlet in the limits of Siġġiewi as illustrated in Cabreo AOM Vol. 290 (f. 68). Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 215 – Another hamlet in the limits of Siġġiewi as illustrated in the same Cabreo (f. 70). Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 216 – The Gozo Castello and its suburb Rabat as illustrated in the same Cabreo (f. 126). Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 217 – One of the narrow winding streets that still characterizes the centre of Rabat, Gozo
• Chapter 6 – Religious Beliefs and Traditions
• Figure 218 – The earliest monastery of the Carmelite friars established in the outskirts of Rabat
• Figure 219 – The Mosta parish church
• Figure 220 – St Dimitri chapel in the parish of Għarb, Gozo
• Figure 221 – The chapel of the Annunciation at Ħal Millieri. Courtesy of Din l-Art Ħelwa, National Trust of Malta
• Figure 222 – The façade of the chapel of the Annunciation at Ħal Millieri
• Figure 223 – The parish church of Nadur, Gozo, and the main square of the village
• Figure 224 – The cupola of the Xagħra parish church, Gozo, characterized by its typical reddish colour
• Figure 225 – The parish church of Rabat, Malta
• Figure 226 – The parish church of Msida
• Figure 227 – The interior of the parish church of Balzan
• Figure 228 – A late medieval fresco of St Paul at the church of the Annunciation, Ħal Millieri. Courtesy of Din l-Art Ħelwa, National Trust of Malta
• Figure 229 – A niche adorning the corner of a house in Victoria, Gozo
• Figure 230 – A corner religious statue in Valletta
• Figure 231 – A typical traditional village festa in Malta
• Figure 232 – Fireworks during a local village festa
• Figure 233 – A village street decorated with flags and banners on the occasion of the saint’s festa
• Figure 234 – One of the statues of the Nadur (Gozo) Good Friday procession depicting Christ’s crucifixion
• Figure 235 – The village priests also participate in the Good Friday procession
• Figure 236 – The Easter day procession in Victoria, Gozo
• Figure 237 – A small family Christmas crib
• Figure 238 – The private chapel of Palazzo Stagno, Qormi. Courtesy palazzostagno.com
• Figure 239 – A portable altar exhibited at the Inquisitor’s Palace, Birgu. The Inquisitor’s Palace Museum, Birgu – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 240 – A small family shrine in a private house
• Chapter 7 – Diet, Dining Fashions, Health and Education
• Figure 241 – Inv. 1081-82: Michele Bellanti, Pollajuolo - Poulterer, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta.
• Figure 242 – Inv. 1069-70: Michele Bellanti, Venditore di Frutta di Mare – Shell Fish Vender, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 243 – Inv. 1449-50: Unknown Artist, Selling Milk, Malta, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 244 – Antoine Favray, Souper à Malte, inv. 7915, 18th century. Courtesy of Evreux, Musée d’Art, Histoire et Archéologie, France (Jean-Pierre Godais)
• Figure 245 – An early 20th century formal dining room. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina
• Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 246 – The kitchen of the Inquistor’s Palace. The Inquisitor’s Palace Museum, Birgu – Heritage Malta.
• Figure 247 – Examples of ceramic cooking pans which were still in use in certain houses even during the second half of the 20th century. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina
• Figure 248 – An earthenware container known as il-baqra. Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum Collection. Courtesy of Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Mdina
• Figure 250 – Antoine Favray, Dr Salvatore Bernard and his Wife and Son, oil on canvas, 18th century. Private collection. (In Degiorgio and Fiorentino 2004)
• Figure 251 – Inv. 7651-52: Antonaci Grech, Artist’s Wife Teaching her Son, water-colour, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 252 – Inv. 1071-72: Michele Bellanti, Acquaiuolo – Water Seller, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Chapter 8 – Furniture and Costumes
• Figure 254 – A Maltese walnut and marquetry inlaid serpentine commode, second half of 17th century. Private collection
• Figure 255 – An 18th century bureau bookcase.
• Private collection
• Figure 256 – Inv. 1709-10: Charles Brochdorff, Maltese Woman in Black Faldetta, water-colour, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 257 – Inv. 1079-80: Michele Bellanti, Venditrice di Uova – Eggs Vender, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 258 (a) – Antoine Favray, The Three Generations, oil on canvas, 18th century. Private collection. (In Degiorgio and Fiorentino 2004). (b) – Inv. 1553-54: Charles Brockdorff, Ladies in Walking Dress, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine
• Figure 259 – Inv. 011-12: Edward Caruana Dingli, A Lady Sitting on an Armchair, oil on textured cardboard, early 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 260 – Inv. 027-28: Edward Caruana Dingli, Portrait of a Lady, oil on canvas, first half of the 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 261 – Inv. 009-10: Edward Caruana Dingli, Portrait of a Lady, oil on canvas, first half of the 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 262 – Inv. 683-84: Giuseppe Calì, Portrait of a Gentleman, oil on canvas, late 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 263 – Inv. 007-8: Edward Caruana Dingli, Portrait of a Man, oil on cardboard, first half of the 20th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 264 – Inv. 1075-76: Attributed to Michele Bellanti, Contadina – Country Woman, lithograph, 19th century National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 265 – Inv. 4495-96: Edward Caruana Dingli, La Venditrice di Polli, oil on wood, first half of the 20th century (courtesy of the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security, Valletta)
• Figure 266 – Inv. 1069-70: Michele Bellanti, Contadino – Countryman, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 267 – Inv. 1089-90: Michele Bellanti, Pasticciere – Pie Man, lithograph, 19th century. National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 268 – Village women wearing the faldetta in the early 20th century. Private collection
• Figure 269 – An early 20th century photograph showing a young peasant woman wearing a faldetta (Shepherd 1926)
• Figure 270 – An early 20th century photograph showing a town lady with her two children one on each side. Private collection
• Figure 271 – A group of women washing their clothes in the immediate post-war years. Private collection
• Figure 272 – Gathering of crowd watching television in public for the first time in the 1950s. Private collection
• Figure 273 – A photograph showing people walking in one of the local towns in the 1950s. Private collection
• Chapter 9 – Household, Class, Gender and Property
• Chapter 10 – Decoding Maltese Houses and Settlements
• Figure 274 (a) – Plan of House 1, Mġarr (Malta): the ground floor (MHHS House no. 8) (Scale 1:200) (b) – Plan of House 1: the għorfa (MHHS House no. 8) (Scale 1:150)
• Figure 275 – Justified accessibility graph of House 1
• Figure 276 – Access Analysis values of House 1
• Figure 277 (a) – Plan of House 2, Żejtun: the ground floor (MHHS House no. 16) (Scale 1: 300) (b) – Plan of House 2: the first floor (MHHS House no. 16) (Scale 1: 300)
• Figure 278 – Justified accessibility graph of House 2
• Figure 279 – Access Analysis values of House 2
• Figure 280 – Plan of House 3, Valletta (in Cabreo AOM Vol. 307, f. 6). Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 281 – Justified accessibility graph of House 3
• Figure 282 – Access Analysis values of House 3
• Figure 283 – Plan of House 4, Valletta (in Valentino 2006: 151)
• Figure 284 – Justified accessibility graph of House 4
• Figure 285 – Access Analysis values of House 4
• Figure 286 (a) – Plan of House 5, Qormi: the ground floor (MHHS House no. 5) (Scale 1:150) (b) – Plan of House 5: the first floor (MHHS House no. 5) (Scale 1:150)
• Figure 288 – Access Analysis values of House 5
• Figure 289 – Plan of House 6, Attard (after Buttigieg 1990)
• Figure 290 – Plan of House 7, Attard (after Buttigieg 1990)
• Figure 291 – Justified accessibility graph of House 6
• Figure 292 – Justified accessibility graph of House 7
• Figure 293 – Access Analysis values of House 6
• Figure 294 – Access Analysis values of House 7
• gsz
• Figure 295 – A detail from Mondion’s map of Mdina (early 18th century). Courtesy of The National Library, Valletta
• Figure 296 – Visibility graph of Mdina showing the distribution of visual integration
• Figure 297 – Visibility graph of Mdina showing the distribution of connectivity
• Figure 298 – Mdina: Visibility Graph Analysis Values
• Figure 299 – Visibility graph of Mdina showing the distribution of through vision
• Figure 300 – Visibility graph of Mdina showing the distribution of visual control
• Figure 301 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of integration in Mdina
• Figure 302 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of connectivity in Mdina
• Figure 303 – Mdina: Axial Line Analysis Values
• Figure 304 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of entropy in Mdina
• Figure 305 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of control in Mdina
• Figure 306 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of choice in Mdina
• Figure 307 – A detail from Lucini’s map showing the city of Valletta (1631). National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta – Heritage Malta. Courtesy of Heritage Malta
• Figure 308 – Valletta: Visibility Graph Analysis Values
• Figure 309 – Visibility graph of Valletta showing the distribution of visual integration
• Figure 310 – Visibility graph of Valletta showing the distribution of visual connectivity
• Figure 311 – Visibility graph of Valletta showing the distribution of visual mean depth
• Figure 312 – Visibility graph of Valletta showing the distribution of through vision
• Figure 313 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of integration in Valletta
• Figure 314 – Valletta: Axial Line Analysis Values
• Figure 315 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of connectivity in Valletta
• Figure 316 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of choice in Valletta
• Figure 317 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of control in Valletta
• Figure 318 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of entropy in Valletta
• Figure 319 – A map of Santa Luċija. Courtesy of mepa.org.mt
• Figure 320 – Santa Luċija: Visibility Graph Analysis Values
• Figure 321 – Visibility graph of Santa Luċija showing the distribution of visual integration
• Figure 322 – Visibility graph of Santa Luċija showing the distribution of visual control
• Figure 323 – Visibility graph of Santa Luċija showing the distribution of visual connectivity
• Figure 324 – Visibility graph of Santa Luċija showing the distribution of through vision
• Figure 325 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of integration in Santa Luċija
• Figure 326 – Santa Luċija: Axial Line Analysis Values
• Figure 327 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of connectivity in Santa Luċija
• Figure 328 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of control in Santa Luċija
• Figure 329 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of entropy in Santa Luċija
• Figure 330 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of choice in Santa Luċija
• Figure 331 – Map of Żurrieq (early 20th century)
• Figure 332 – Map of Żurrieq (second half of the 20th century)
• Figure 333 – Visibility graph of Żurrieq (early 20th century) showing the distribution of visual integration
• Figure 334 – Visibility graph of Żurrieq (late 20th century) showing the distribution of visual integration
• Figure 335 – Żurrieq (early 20th century): Visibility Graph Analysis Values
• Figure 336 – Visibility graph of Żurrieq (early 20th century) showing the distribution of visual connectivity
• Figure 337 – Visibility graph of Żurrieq (late 20th century) showing the distribution of visual connectivity
• Figure 338 – Żurrieq (late 20th century): Visibility Graph Analysis Values
• Figure 339 – Visibility graph of Żurrieq (early 20th century) showing the distribution of through vision
• Figure 340 – Visibility graph of Żurrieq (late 20th century) showing the distribution of through vision
• Figure 341 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of integration in Żurrieq (early 20th century)
• Figure 342 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of integration in Żurrieq (late 20th century)
• (early 20th century)
• Figure 344 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of control in Żurrieq
• Figure 345 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of connectivity in Żurrieq (early 20th century)
• Figure 346 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of connectivity in Żurrieq (late 20th century)
• Figure 347 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of control in Żurrieq (late 20th century)
• (early 20th century)
• Figure 348 – Żurrieq (late 20th century): Axial Line Analysis Values
• Figure 349 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of entropy in Żurrieq
• Figure 350 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of entropy in Żurrieq (late 20th century)
• Figure 351 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of choice in Żurrieq (early 20th century)
• Figure 352 – Axial line graph showing the distribution of choice in Żurrieq (late 20th century)
• Chapter 11 – The Development of the Maltese Houses since the Second Half of the Twentieth Century
• Figure 353 (a) – An aerial view of Santa Luċija, which developed in the post-war period (Source: Google Earth). (b) – An aerial view of Buġibba, an important tourist centre in Malta (Source: Google Earth)
• Figure 354 – Building development which occurred at the wrong side of Birkirkara By-pass. Lack of proper town planning legislation encouraged further urban sprawl in areas not earmarked for development
• Figure 356 – A row of terraced houses developed under the Home Ownership Scheme
• Figure 357 (a) – The old and the new: a few of the last remaining villas at Tal-Qroqq (Msida), with recent building development in the background. (b) – The same villas and semi-detached houses (left) and apartments (right) from another location
• Figure 359 – A new apartment block with flats at semi-basement level
• Figure 360 – Two houses built in the early eighties of the 20th century, with the façade completely in stone
• Figure 361 – Plan of an apartment consisting of a living area at the front and two separate bedrooms at the rear (MHHS House no. 2) (Scale 1:100)
• Figure 362 – Part of the living area of the same apartment (MHHS House no. 2)
• Figure 363 – The same apartment (MHHS House no. 2): a narrow corridor leading to the bathroom and the bedrooms at the rear
• Figure 364 – A converted house of character in the village of Għarb, Gozo
• Chapter 12 – Concluding Remarks
• Figure 365 – Summary of the main phases of development of the Maltese houses
• Bibliography
• Appendix 1 – The Malta Historic House Survey
• Appendix 2 – Glossary of Terms
• Back Cover