Casa Rocca Piccola — Valletta

What is Casa Rocca Piccola?

Casa Rocca Piccola is a palace dating from the late 16th century, when Valletta was first being built, and it remains the residence of a Maltese noble family. Unusually, it is open to the public, so visitors can see authentic, lived-in historic interiors rather than an empty museum.

Where is Casa Rocca Piccola?

The palace stands in the historic centre of Valletta, a short walk along and off the main Republic Street.

History of Casa Rocca Piccola

The palace was built in the early decades of Valletta for a senior knight of the Order, and over the centuries it passed into the hands of a noble Maltese family who still live there today. Its rooms preserve furniture, paintings, silver, costumes and family archives accumulated over generations. Beneath the house lie a network of rooms and a wartime air-raid shelter dug into the rock, used during the heavy bombing of the Second World War.

What to see at Casa Rocca Piccola

• The grand reception rooms with family portraits and antiques.
• Collections of silver, furniture and historic costume.
• WWII air-raid shelters — .
• The internal courtyard and chapel.

Significance

As a still-inhabited noble palace open to visitors, Casa Rocca Piccola is unique in Valletta. It offers an intimate, human view of Maltese aristocratic life across the centuries, complementing the grander state buildings nearby.

Visiting Casa Rocca Piccola

The palace is generally seen on a guided tour, which leads through the historic rooms and down into the shelters. Tour times and ticket prices should be checked in advance, as it is a private home with set visiting arrangements.