This country house was built by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares at the beginning of the 17th century. The villa later fell into the possession of the Testaferrata family, who enlarged it to its present state. The most beautiful part of the villa is the chapel, the dome of which can be seen from outside. This chapel is decorated with beautiful sculpture work in stone.
For many years, the villa was abandoned. In his book “L-istorja taż-Żejtun u M’Xlokk”, E.B. Vella wrote in 1928, that the chapel was full of hay up to its rafters. When the house was bought by its present owners in the 90s, they found the chapel in exactly the same state as Vella had described it in his book.
This villa is scheduled as a Grade 1 property by the Planning Authority. It was restored in a professional way and is now in excellent condition. Its restoration and rehabilitation project was awarded the Din l-Art Ħelwa Prize for Architectural Heritage and the Prix d’Honneur, 2008.
Other places of interest in close proximity:
Renaissance House, Taltas Street
The residence of Klement Tabone
L-imsaqqfa, Villa Cagliares Street
Location Map
PLAKKASTORJA 