Prof. Joseph Buhajar presentation of the Maltese Gardens involved in the project Gardmed

1. PP2 Selection of Malta Gardens
Joseph Buhagiar
PP2 UoM Project Coordinator –
Gardmed
1st Steeering Committee Meeting
September 20th 2011
PO ITALIA MALTA 2007 - 2013
Progetto - GARDMED – Project

2. Proposed List of Gardens
1. Argotti Botanic
Gardens, outer and
inner, Floriana
2. Mall Gardens, Floriana
3. King George V
Garden, Floriana
4. Sir Luigi Preziosi/Vilhena
Garden, Floriana
5. Palace Kitchen
Garden, Attard
6. Villa Bologna
Gardens, Attard
7. Tal-Kmandant
Gardens, Zejtun
8. Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar

3. 1. Argotti Botanic Gardens (UoM)
•Historical garden dating back to 1742
•Currently University of Malta Garden
•Formerly a combination of three interjoined gardens
•Currently only a section about 0.5 hectares, under
University jurisdiction
•Most intensively cultivated part with botanical collections

4. Historical Garden & Buildings

5. Varied Collections

6. Outer Argotti (Formerly UoM)

7. Outer Argotti

8. Outer Argotti

9. 2. The Mall Gardens
•Originally a historical, walled garden
dating back to the 18th Century.
•Contains several old specimens.
•Eight monuments dedicated to important
persons are found in this garden.

10. 3. King George V Garden, Floriana
•The entrance of these Gardens is renowned for it's elaborate
arch, with the British Monarchy coat-of-arms at the top.
•A bronze bust of King George V lies as you enter the garden.
•This garden was converted into Malta's first Playing Field and
inaugurated in the 1930s.

11. 3. King George V Garden, Floriana

12. 4. Sir Luigi Preziosi /Vilhena Garden
•Relatively modern garden
•Has a good vantage point over grand harbour
•Named after a very successful ophthalmic surgeon and
political figure.
•Luigi Count Preziosi was born of noble family in Sliema
on the 29th July, 1888.

13. 4. Sir Luigi Preziosi /Vilhena Garden

14. 5.Palace Kitchen Garden
•The historic kitchen garden of San Anton Palace spread over nine tumoli.
•Garden supplied the palace with vegetables since the time of the knights.
•Features include - playing area, museum and animal pens for
ponies, donkeys, ostriches and goats.
•This garden is run by the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF) - a
charitable institution chaired by The President of Malta.

15. 5.Palace Kitchen
Garden

16. 6. Villa Bologna Gardens
• Villa and garden were built in 1745 by Fabrizio Grech as a
wedding dowry for his daughter Maria Teresa to Nicolas
Perdicomati Bologna, second Count della Catena.
• Features old orange groves and fountains from this period.
• In the 1930s Lady Strickland created a new garden behind the
villa with a spectacular fountain, a sunken pond and vine
covered pergolas and new citrus groves.

17. 6. Villa Bologna Gardens

18. 6. Villa Bologna Gardens

19. 7. Tal-Kmandant Garden Zejtun
•Also known as Luqa Briffa Garden &
"Giardino Botanico".
•Designed & built in Italian style by
architect Mikiel Cachia in 1802AD .
•A number of similar gardens in
various towns and villages in Malta.
•Commissioned by Sir Alexander Ball
(5 still exist) & given to Leading
Representatives of the villages
(Lieutenant Guze’ Abela for Zejtun)
for their mission in revolts against the
French.
•Coat of arms of King George III is
found on the main door entrance.

20. 7. Tal-Kmandant Garden Zejtun

21. 8. Palazzo Parisio
•An 18th century palace, located in the heart of Naxxar.
•Includes an Orangery, fountains and two arrangements created by
Sicilian gardeners.

22. 8. Palazzo Parisio
A mixture of Italian-style symmetry
and scented, vivid Mediterranean
character.

23. 8. Palazzo Parisio
Ponds, Archway, Statue and Orangery

24. 8. Palazzo Parisio

25. # Villa Francia – Villa Preziosi
•Prime Minister’s Official Residence.
•Villa Preziosi, later known as Villa Francia, is
situated in the northern part of Lija.
•Villa Francia is a building of national
interest.
•Baroque style Villa Francia is dated to the
mid-eighteenth century (prior to 1757).

26. # Villa Francia – Villa Preziosi