Palazzo Parisio, Grade 1 neoclassical building in Valletta, Malta
Palazzo Parisio is a three-story neoclassical building located on Merchants Street in Valletta, Malta. Its limestone facade features balanced proportions and classical architectural elements that characterize its exterior design.
The building was constructed in 1744 according to a design by architect Peruzzi. It gained significance when Napoleon Bonaparte stayed there for six days during the French occupation of Malta in the late 1700s.
The palace reflects the refined tastes of Maltese nobility through its preserved rooms, which now serve as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The interior design reveals the standard of elegance and power that shaped daily life among the island's elite families.
The building sits opposite the Auberge d'Italie on Merchants Street and is easy to locate. Though it underwent reconstruction following World War II damage, visitors should note it currently functions as a government facility with limited public access.
Underground shelters lie beneath the building, built during World War II to protect occupants from bombing. These hidden spaces show how the structure was adapted to wartime needs and reveal a layer of local history that remains largely invisible to passersby.
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