(May 22, 2017) The Palace of the Grand Master in La Valletta, wanted by the Grand Master Pietro del Monte, represents a piece of history of the Order of the Knights of Malta. The conference "From Renaissance to Baroque: Recent findings on the Palace of the Grand Masters in Valletta", scheduled for May 24 at 18.30 at the Italian Institute of Culture in La Valletta is dedicated to this symbol of the country, which has always been the heart of the archipelago. The conference, organized by the International Institute of Baroque Studies (University of Malta), in collaboration with the Italian Embassy and ICI, will be presented by Theresa Vella, art historian and museum consultant, teacher of painting and Baroque sculpture at the International Institute of Baroque Studies. The projects for the construction of the Palace following the "Great Siege of Malta" of 1565, provided for the site a prominent position: the first choice was the highest point of the promontory but was soon abandoned in favor of a place in the heart of city. Changes in previous projects has influenced the building of the palace, the transition from its Renaissance style foundations to its Baroque splendor is particularly visible. The Palace has a story of adapting to artistic and architectural standards changes and of increasingly sophisticated expectations of his important tenant, the Great Master of the Order of St. John and the Sovereign of Malta. (PO / Red)

ABOUT / IIC

The Italian Cultural Institute of La Valletta, founded in February 1971, until 1974 while carrying out a negligible activity, had its provisional seat at the Embassy of Italy. The Cultural Attachè of the Embassy is also the Director of the Institute. In 1974 the Institute was transferred to the current headquarters of Valletta. The building, built in 1602 by the Great Master Alof de Wignacourt, was first used as an armory, later as an archive of the documents of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and therefore took the name and functions of the Order Chancellery. The stone wall at the entrance of the building remembers the work of arranging the weapons and official acts of the Order carried out by Grand Master Wignacourt.