Mdina may be small, yet amidst its cobbled streets, repurposed buildings, and the foreign visitors wandering through them, the Silent City holds an impressive amount of history.
Mdina is known for its old buildings, passed down through generations, restored and repurposed over time. Many visitors, however, are unaware of the noble houses hidden within its walls that can be visited and experienced firsthand. Each of Mdina’s noble houses holds an authenticity that makes it especially appealing to tourists seeking a connection to the city’s past.
Two such places are Casa Gourgion, a 19th-century property, and Palazzo Falson, a residence with roots stretching back to the 13th century.
CASA GOURGION
Tucked into the historic heart of Mdina, this is a beautifully restored 19th-century Neo-Gothic residence that offers visitors a rare and intimate look into the private world and noble lineage of Baron Giuseppe De Piro Gourgion.
The story of Casa Gourgion began in 1886, when architect Andrea Vassallo put forward a proposal on behalf of Giuseppino De Piro to build a house in Mdina’s Cathedral Square. The new residence was to replace a modest single-storey structure standing in the garden of Palazzo Gourgion.
Across the decades, the property passed through several tenants, with the De Perio Gourgion family reclaiming the property in 2020 and embarking on a restoration project spanning more than four years to bring the house back to its former glory. As a Grade 2 listed building, Casa Gourgion is now legally protected from demolition or any alterations that could compromise its historical and cultural significance.
If you visit, you can see period furnishings and artefacts, informative signage and permanent exhibitions.
PALAZZO FALSON
With origins tracing back to the early 13th century, the Palazzo was originally a single-storey building. It took on its current form in 1524, when Michele de Falsone inherited the property and added a second floor along with its striking twin-light, Arabesque pillared windows.
Its final private owner was Captain Olof Frederick Gollcher OBE, who renamed the Palazzo “The Norman House” upon purchase. A soldier, artist, and philanthropist, Gollcher was also a passionate collector of art and historical artefacts, many of which remain part of the collection today.
Before his passing, Gollcher expressed his wish for the house and its contents to be preserved as a museum, leaving instructions in his will for the creation of the Captain O.F.Gollcher OBE Art and Archaeological Foundation. This wish was fulfilled, with the property not open to the public.
A visit to either, or both, is a memorable way to experience the Silent City’s history up close.
