Casa Leoni, Baroque palace in Santa Venera, Malta
Casa Leoni is a two-story baroque palace with a central arched entrance doorway on its facade. The first floor features a balcony supported by heavy stone corbels and decorated with wooden louvered shutters.
Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena commissioned this palace in 1730, with architect Charles Francois de Mondion designing the structure. It was built to serve as a summer residence.
The entrance displays carved stone lions holding the Vilhena coat of arms, which is the origin of the building's name. These lions are a striking detail that visitors immediately notice when looking at the front facade.
The building is now a protected national monument housing government offices, so interior access is restricted. However, the adjoining Romeo Romano Gardens are open to visitors and offer a walk through the historic grounds.
The adjoining Romeo Romano Gardens contain underground bell-shaped water reservoirs from earlier times. These hidden structures show how past residents collected and stored water.
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