Palazzo Falson 360

Palazzo Falson 360 – a historic house museum.

The Norman House, or as it is now called, Palazzo Falson, will be officially open to the general public in May 2007. To mark the event Miranda Publishers have created an amazing tribute to Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, its Chairman, and the house itself with a special limited edition of the 360° collection. “Palazzo Falson; A Historic House Museum” is a wonderful book to peruse and enjoy at leisure. The grandiose photographs by Enrico Formica are artistic in the extreme. The book underscores the point made by Patrimonju Chairman Maurice de Giorgio in his introduction to it; namely that the restoration of this house to its present pristine condition ‘makes us aware of the cultural tragedy we would have suffered, unconsciously, had it been lost.’ The introduction also gives us a brief account of the history of the Palazzo as well as information about the restoration work undertaken by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.

The eclectic collections accumulated by Olof Gollcher at Palazzo Falson are a unique part of Malta’s patrimony, surviving many years of indifference to rise like a splendid phoenix in 2007 for the greater delectation of the Maltese public as a very important part of our collective patrimony. Both the collections and the ambience of the house itself are beautifully captured in the 360° book that shows how, with painstaking dedication, unflagging determination and above all pride in one’s work one can achieve the ultimate. This can be said of both the house itself and the wonderful book that celebrates it.

With 88 beautiful full colour photographs including a number of fold-out pages up to two metres wide, this new tome makes one feel as if one is actually in Palazzo Falson; so evocatively and ingeniously are the photographs taken. The exhaustive and very informative research (more than 14,000 words) undertaken by Michelle Galea which describes each photograph and catalogues practically each item is an excellent way to enjoy this house in the comfort of your home; not that an actual visit should not be part of your immediate plans for the future by any means. However, the visual feast provided by the book is certainly the next best thing. The book which is the first that Miranda Publishers have produced in collaboration with Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti is certainly a must for book lovers and collectors of melitensia.

By: Maurice De Giorgio

Format: hardback, boxed and in slipcase

No of pages: 150

Published: 2007

Condition: as new.