Palazzo Dorell, Palladian palace in Gudja, Malta
Palazzo Dorell is a palace in Gudja built in the Palladian style with two floors arranged symmetrically. Classical proportions guide the design of both the outer walls and the interior rooms.
The palace was built in 1670 by Count Ignatius Francesco Moscati Falsoni Navarra. Later it served as a military command center for the British during their time controlling the island from 1798 to 1800.
Inside the rooms you can see frescoes painted by Antonio Grech, known as Naici, which show how Maltese artists decorated homes in the 17th century. These wall paintings shape the feeling of the rooms today.
This property is a private residence and visits require special permission from the owners. The surrounding grounds hold a defensive tower and a small burial ground you can see from outside.
The gardens were designed following French landscaping ideas rather than the style typical of other Maltese country houses from that same period. This unusual approach makes the grounds distinctly different from what surrounded similar homes elsewhere.
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