Palazzo D'Aurel, Gudja : a historical and descriptive analysis

Abstract

Palazzo D’Aurel, commonly known as Palazzo Bettina, is found in the village of Gudja. Originally, it was a small country house and in 1760 became the property of Baroness Bettina Muscati Dorell. After spending some time in Naples, the Baroness added side wings to the unpretentious building, providing more rooms and terraces for entertaining purposes. Furthermore, she added a courtyard, highly ornamented gateways, pathways which lead to different pavilions and an endless number of cultural motifs scattered throughout the demesne. The decorative elements of the gardens show a lot of Neapolitan and Sicilian influences, making this palace one of the finest on the island. A particular feature of this palace is a three storey, circular tower that was used a watchtower on several occasions. From this tower one can see the harbour of Marsaxlokk and the surrounding areas. Baroness Bettina converted this tower into a folly to impress her guests, making it a unique feature with its decorative style. This high vertical element helps viewers to identify the palace from several areas in the south since it is visible from many nearby villages. Due to this, the palace was of valuable use to the country at the end of the eighteenth century, when the French forces seized Malta, and in the twentieth century during WWII, when it served as the Headquarters for the British troops. After the death of the Baroness, the palace became the property of the noble family Trapani Galea Feriol, who put in much effort so that the palace could survive time. Today, this palace can still be admired as it is the private residence of Baron Gino Trapani Galea Feriol and his family.