Last Updated on: 16th May 2024, 10:31 am
The Casa Rocca Piccola is just a short walk from the Grand Master’s Palace on Republic Street in the heart of Valletta and just around the corner from the Mysterium Fidei Museum.
What is Casa Rocca Piccola?
The 16th-century Casa Rocca Piccola is more than just an old house—it’s a living museum that offers a unique glimpse into the lives of Maltese nobility over the centuries.
Owned by the de Piro family, who still live there, the palace has been lovingly restored and the public rooms turned into a museum. I even had the pleasure of meeting Nicholas de Piro, the 9th Marquis de Piro, as I wandered around.
The rooms are beautifully furnished with antique furniture and paintings that showcase Malta’s rich heritage.
And if you’re feeling peckish, there’s even a restaurant, La Giara, serving delicious Sicilian cuisine.
So, whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast, looking for a delicious meal, or a place to stay, the Casa Rocca Piccola has something to offer everyone.
Guided Tour or Audio Tour?
The guided tours take place on the hour. All tours are conducted in English and take around 45 minutes.
Alternatively, you can choose to roam at your own pace using the Audio Tour App, which you can download to your smartphone and is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
Wi-Fi is available at the Casa Rocca Piccolo.
After downloading the app, the left will lead you up the staircase to visit the rooms, and the right will take you into the gardens and lead you to the war shelter.
Exploring The Rooms
The Chinese Room is the first room you enter once you’ve climbed the stairs. Admittedly, it isn’t that Chinese-looking, but it does contain some furniture of Asian origin, hence the name. This room was once used as a smoking room.
From there, you make your way into the Sala Grande. This is a beautiful room with the original colours on the wall.
Just off the Sala Grande is the family chapel.
Next is the winter dining room with its turquoise walls. The table and chairs come from Florence and are typical of the 17th century. According to the audio guide, the plates would wobble on the intricate carvings on the table when eating in this room. Think of all the wine that must have spilt!
The next stop is the Archive Room, which features a fascinating private collection of family documents dating back to the 1600s.
Then there’s the Sedan Chair. This particular chair belonged to a French knight of Malta. He would have been carried around Valletta by two captured Turks in uniforms. The chair has a coat of arms and initials painted so everyone knows who it belonged to. I would love one of these to help carry me up and down all the steps near me.
Then there’s the four-poster bed made of Sicilian oak. It was the matrimonial bed of family member Orsola de Piro d’Amico, who married in 1867 and had nine children who all survived—a rarity in those days. Apparently, it’s a very comfortable bed to sleep in, but alas, I had no opportunity for a nap, and it would probably have looked a bit weird if I did.
Next is the Green Room, named after its green walls, which were painted to imitate silk and were used to decorate rooms in the 18th century.
In this room, you’ll see the invitations to King George VI’s and Queen Elizabeth II’s coronations, as Malta was part of the British Empire for over 150 years.
Did you know Queen Elizabeth lived in Malta for two years as Princess Elizabeth?
I loved the library, with all the family photos on the piano. I’m very nosey and love nosing into people’s lives. On the walls, there are various portraits, such as Sir Walter Scott, who visited Malta in 1831, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who came in 1804.
One of my favourite rooms was the Summer Dining Room. It was once an open terrace overlooking the small garden.
And then, it’s time to walk down the Art Nouveau staircase to the gardens.
The Garden
Casa Rocca Piccola is unique because it’s one of the few houses in Valletta with a garden. In Valletta, gardens were considered a luxury because water was scarce, especially when more people started living there in the 17th century.
The garden is a lovely little oasis and a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of Valletta’s streets, especially when the giant cruise ships are in town.
In the gardens, you’ll meet the very friendly Kiku, a blue and gold macaw that greets everyone with a hello and gets very excited if you say hello back.
From the garden, you can take the stairs down to the Bomb Shelters.
Bomb Shelters
The city of Valletta and the surrounding harbour areas were among the most heavily bombed areas of Europe during the Second World War.
Beneath Casa Rocca Piccola are four wells that had been cut from solid rock and were part of the original quarry used to build the house many centuries ago.
Two wells were converted to bomb shelters during the war. One was a private shelter for the family, and the other was made available for use by residents of Valletta.
The stairs leading down to the bomb shelter from the garden are rather narrow, a little slippery, and a bit claustrophobic, but it’s still worth a visit.
However, I found the bomb shelters by the Mosta Church a bit more interesting.
Opening Hours For Casa Rocca Piccola
Casa Rocca Piccola is open from 10 am to 5 pm (last admission 4 pm) every day except Sundays, Good Friday, The Feast of Mary’s Assumption (15th August) and Christmas Day.
How Much Does It Cost To Visit Casa Rocca Piccola?
Adults €9,50
Children up to 14 – free.
You can book your ticket online here to skip the line and secure a place on the guided tour.
Fancy Staying At The Casa Rocca Piccola?
If you fancy staying, there are five rooms available for guests. I didn’t see any of the rooms because they were all occupied. But from the photos online, they look pretty impressive and are extremely well-reviewed. So, if you fancy staying, check out the accommodation details and prices here.
There’s also a restaurant, La Giara, serving Sicilian cuisine. I love Sicilian food; honestly, I really should get out more and explore what’s on my doorstep.
Would I Recommend Casa Rocca Piccola?
Yes, it was so much better than I expected. I love visiting historic homes when I travel, so I can’t understand why I have ignored this one on my doorstep for so long.
It’s a lovely home to explore. Allow yourself a good hour to wander around.
But don’t just take my word for it. Have a look at these reviews on Trip Advisor.
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links, through which I receive a small commission that helps towards the cost of running this blog. However, don’t worry—there’s no extra cost to you.
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The Malta Experience in Valletta
The Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu
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