Have you ever wished to be invited to an enchanting home of an artist, a lover of beautiful objects, an avid collector of art and historic objects, a bon vivant? Captain Olof Frederick Gollcher and his wife Nella lived in one of the most notable houses in Mdina, which they transformed into a magnificent home; decorated with tasteful furnishings, each room adorned with various fascinating collections ranging from fine antiques to quirky items of curiosity. The Gollchers' pride and joy was to entertain their friends at the palazzo for dinner parties in the unique ambience of their treasure troves. And this invitation is being extended to you too.
It is intriguing to explore Palazzo Falson, one of the oldest standing medieval buildings in Malta that was lived in by the important Falsone family in the 14th and 15th centuries. The architecture of the house reveals past reminders of its various occupants, each successive family making changes to the house. The last occupants of this splendid house in the narrow street of Villagaignon, were the Gollchers. Their legacy continues and the house and its collections have been restored and preserved to be enjoyed as a historic house museum by the public.
The palazzo is discreetly camouflaged among the Medieval architecture of Mdina and it is a fascinating discovery to find its doors wide open inviting you to see what lies within this stately home. The view of the beautiful central courtyard from the doorstep evokes curiosity to discover what's inside this magical place. The courtyard is the epicentre of the house from which the rooms fan out, on the ground level. This delightful open space provides light and ventilation as well as shade from the colourful bouganvillae and wisteria creepers. Most of the piano nobile rooms have windows overlooking the courtyard with its charming architectural decorative features and other playful additions that Gollcher made to his home, modelled on historical medieval features. Attention is drawn to the coat of arms of Grand Master l'Isle-Adam to mark the short stay of the most illustrious visitor in 1531. Up to the present day, the courtyard remains the central hub of cultural activities of the museum, from open air concerts, literary gatherings, film screenings to exclusive private events.
The grand rooms of the palazzo are brought to life as you walk from one room to another. The journey unfolds into fascinating stories of the building and its eclectic collections amassed by Olof Gollcher throughout his lifetime. The wonderful collections spread in all rooms, ranging from oil paintings and watercolours such as the Maltese landscape by Edward Lear to displays of unique objects such as the decimal watch made in 1797 to measure French Revolutionary time.
The oldest quarters of the house are the refectory, the kitchen and the armoury room. The kitchen, or trattoria, as Gollcher preferred to call it, has so many interesting elements, from its curious arrangement of arches to the monumental fireplace covered with ceramic tiles depicting costumed figures engaged in food preparation and agricultural activities. The kitchen walls exhibit copper pots of all sizes and amusing jelly molds with emblematic Maltese cross decorations. There are many other artefacts related to traditional Maltese cooking that merit a visit to Olof's trattoria.
The formal dining room on the piano nobile is where the Gollchers entertained their guests to lavish dinners and impressed them with the opulent table settings and gracious surroundings. The table is heavily weighted with silverware and fine glassware from Venice, emblazoned with the family crest of Olof's ancestors, the Bruno family. A precious silver miniature galley, known as Nef in old French, decorates the table and holds salt and spices to serve all guests. However, its place denoted the guest of honour at the table. The imposing fireplace has an inscription, emphasising once again the visit of the distinguished visitor, Grand Master L'Isle Adam. Large portraits of Olof's grandparents and parents line the walls and they all seem to be watching over the guests.
The audio narrator guides you to all the splendid rooms of the palazzo, highlighting important facts about the house and the vast collection. But as you glide from room to room you will capture the spirit of Olof Gollcher, his love of beauty, his interests, his ambitions and his joie de vivre. He was a visionary, a man with a genuine concern for the preservation of our cultural heritage and a pioneer in setting up an institute for underwater archaeology and scientific research.
Palazzo Falson is truly a feast for your eyes and an insight of gracious living in Malta in the past. During the festive season the house museum will be harmoniously dressed with ponsiettas, a delightful traditional Christmas Tree and a small display in the library of original Christmas cards that were sent to Olof and Nella. Our museum hosts will be conducting special guided lunch time tours serving mulled wine and spiced juice to keep up with the Christmas spirit.
Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum, Villegaignon Street, Mdina
Contact us on [email protected] or (+356) 2145 4512
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 10.00-17.00hrs (last entry 16.00hrs)
Closed Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
www.palazzofalson.com
Find us on facebook, Trip advisor and Instagram