Casino Maltese
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| The Casino Maltese | |
|---|---|
 247, Republic Street, Valletta[1] | |
 | |
| Former names | Grand Hotel |
| Alternative names | Casa del Commun Tesoro |
| General information | |
| Status | Intact |
| Location | Valletta, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°53′55.3″N 14°30′47″E / 35.898694°N 14.51306°E |
| Current tenants | Casino Maltese |
| Completed | c. 16th–17th centuries |
| Renovated | 1914 |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect(s) | Nicola Buhagiar and Francesco Mercieca |
The Casino Maltese is a private members' club in Valletta founded in 1852. It is housed in a Grade 1 listed building.
History of the Building
[edit]The original building was most likely designed by Girolamo Cassar, Chief Architect of the Knights of St John, following the foundation of Valletta. The Casa del Commun Tesoro originally belonged to the Treasury of the Order of St. John, and it housed the Treasury's accounts, contracts and records.
In 1708, Malta's first proper postal service was established, and a room within the Casa del Commun Tesoro became the island's first post office. The building continued to house the Packet Office until around 1841, when it was transferred to the Banca Giuratale. On 1 April 1849, the Island Post Office was also transferred from the Casa del Commun Tesoro to the Banca Giuratale, which later became known as the General Post Office.[2]
In the early 19th century, the British used the building for a number of public offices, including the Chief Secretary's Office, the office of the Collector of Land Revenue and the Government Treasury.[3]
English poet and writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge worked inside the building between 1804 and 1805. A plaque on the façade of the building was attached by Giovanni Bonello in the commemoration of Coleridge.[4]
It was converted into a hotel in the late 19th century, known as the Grand Hotel.[5]
The structure was extensively modified in 1914 by the architect Nicola Buhagiar.[6]
Foundation 1852
[edit]The founding document of the Casino Maltese is dated 1 March 1852. From its earliest years until today, many of its members have played leading roles in Maltese society. The club's motto is 'Omnibus Idem'(Same for All), and its main purpose is to cater for the social gathering and entertainment of its members.
The Club was first located at its current premises on Strada Reale (today Republic Street) between 1859 and 1877, and then again from the first years of the twentieth century onwards.
WWII and the Blitz on Valletta
[edit]In an air raid on the 15th February 1942, during World War II, some members of staff lost their lives, and the building sustained extensive damage. <Members and friends, spurred by the spirit of pride in their country, wrote the word “Resurgam” on a board and carried on defiantly.
Notable Guests of the Club
[edit]- French Navy officers responsible for the Mediterranean. 1914-1918.
- Winston Churchill, 1920, honorary temporary member.
- Hirohito, Crown Prince of Japan, 1921, during his visit to Malta en route to the Allied European Nations.
- Edward VIII, (as Edward, Prince of Wales) 1921, during his visit to inaugurate the Legislative Assembly, following Malta's first Self-governing Constitution.
- Ottorino Respighi, 1930, Italian Composer and violinist.
- Elizabeth II, 1949, as Princess and Heir presumptive to the Throne of Great Britain and the Commonwealth Realms.
- Gianni Agnelli, 1988, Chairman of Fiat.
- Robert Finch, 2004, Lord Mayor of London.
- Yōhei Sasakawa, 2004. Chairman of the Nippon Foundation.
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 2022, President of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- Roberta Mestola, 2022, President of the European Parliament.
- Egbert Myjer, 2022, Judge Emeritus of the European Court of Human Rights.
The Sundial
[edit]Another interesting feature of the Casino Maltese – The noon-mark Sundial with Analemma. The face of the Sundial (6.1m x 1.9m) includes an Analemma and Zodiacal signs. It marks only noon-time. The present Sundial is a modernised reconstruction of the one that existed up to the last war and which was subsequently destroyed when the wall collapsed due tp enemy action.
An illustrated book on the history of the Casino Maltese can be purchased from the Club.
References
[edit]- ^ "IL-GAZZETTA TAL-GVERN 1813-1840" (PDF). Um.edu.mt. Retrieved 19 May 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Maltapost privatisation latest red-letter day in postal history". Times of Malta. 21 January 2008. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015.
- ^ Miège, Loris (1840). Histoire de Malte: Statistique (in French). Vol. 1. Paulin. pp. 332–333.
- ^ Benoit, Marie (9 March 2014). "Marie Benoit's Diary". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Some 19th Century Hotelsd in Malta" (PDF). Mwelitensiawth.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ Denaro, Victor F. (1959). "Houses in Kingsway and Old Bakery Street, Valletta". Melita Historica. 2 (4): 204–205. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015.