Banca Giuratale (Valletta)

This article is about the building in Valletta, Malta. For other uses, see Banca Giuratale (disambiguation).

Banca Giuratale
Banka Ġuratali
View of the Banca Giuratale
Former names	Palazzo della Città Consolato del Mare
Alternative names	Municipal Palace
General information
Status	Intact
Type	City hall
Architectural style	Baroque
Location	Valletta, Malta
Current tenants	Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business
Completed	1721
Owner	Government of Malta
Technical details
Material	Limestone
Floor count	2
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Romano Carapecchia

The Banca Giuratale (Template:Lang-mt), formerly also known as the Municipal Palace (Template:Lang-mt), the Palazzo della Città or the Consolato del Mare, is a palace in Valletta, Malta. It was built in the 18th century to house the city's administrative council, and it was subsequently used as the General Post Office and the Public Registry. The Banca Giuratale now houses the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business.

History

The Banca Giuratale was originally a house which belonged to Dr. Gio Batta Piotto, and it was taken over by the treasury of the Order of St. John in 1665. In 1721, the Università, which was the local administrative council of Valletta, acquired the building in exchange for its original premises located across the street (now the Monte di Pietà). The building was subsequently reconstructed during the magistracy of Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari. The new building was designed by the architect Romano Carapecchia.

The Banca Giuratale in the 19th century, when it was the GPO

Interior of the Banca Giuratale

In 1841, the Banca Giuratale became a post office when the Packet Office was transferred there from the Casa del Commun Tesoro in Piazza Tesoreria. The Island Post Office was also transferred into the Banca Giuratale on 1 April 1849, and the two were merged into the General Post Office in 1885. A year later, the GPO moved to Palazzo Parisio.

For many years, the Banca Giuratale housed the Public Registry. The latter has now moved to Evans Building, and the Banca Giuratale now houses the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business.

The building was included on the Antiquities List of 1925. It is now a Grade 1 national monument, and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.

Architecture

Baroque façade of the Banca Giuratale

The Banca Giuratale is built in the Baroque style. The main portal is flanked by Doric columns which support an open balcony. Two arcades are located on either side of the doorway, above which are oval windows set in blind arches. The first floor contains five ornate windows, and an ornate centrepiece is located above the central window. This includes a bust of Grand Master Zondadari, carved figures and drapery, a marble slab with a Latin inscription, and a number of coats of arms. The latter were probably defaced during the French occupation of 1798–1800, and the central coats of arms was later replaced by the British royal arms, probably in the early 19th century.