Villa Gourgion and the Lija Belvedere

The Belvedere was designed by the Maltese architect Giuseppe Bonavia, the same architect who designed the Buttigieg and Francia Palace (or Palazzo Ferreria is it is sometimes known) at the entrance of Valletta. In 1857 the Marquis Depiro and his family, then the owners of Villa Gourigon, commissioned Bonavia to construct this folly in the middle of the orange groves and gardens. It was used as a place of relaxation by the residents and their guests.

Between 1995 and 1996 the belvedere was restored by the Girolormu Cassar School of Masonry and Restoration with financial aid from the Ministry of Education. The building was scheduled by MEPA as a Grade 1 property as per Government Notice number 360/96 dated 04 June 1996.

Villa Gourigon is a relatively extensive 17th century property situated to the North East of the Lija Parish church. When Transfiguration Avenue was opened up, the villa was separated from the belvedere by a high ashlar wall surrounding the remaining gardens and excluding them from the thoroughfare. The villa contains a number of different architectural and decorative features such as frescoes (including tromp l'oeil), numerous carved escutcheons, closed wooden and open balconies, vast underground chambers, historic dates carved in walls, faces carved on corbels, a monumental stairs, wooden beams and stone slabs and various other features. The villa was recently converted into an art gallery (known as Gallery G) and is open to the public.

Villa Gourigon (The Palace) had on three occassions served as the seat of the National Assembly for a number of sessions and the 1921 constitution was drafted there, as also evidenced by photographs of the period.

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Additional Notes:

The Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) has moved ahead with the scheduling of a buffer zone in its efforts to safeguard the visual integrity of the Lija Belvedere Tower and its surroundings. Following this decision no buildings will be permitted to exceed two floors from street level within this buffer zone area. The Authority has also given a maximum protection status to the nearby Villa Gourigon and its gardens in Lija.

The Lija Belvedere, or It-Torri ta' Hal-Lija as it is also known formed part of the extensive gardens of Villa Gourigon prior to the opening of Transfiguration Avenue in the 1950s. The belvedere has retained its original position and has become a landmark building due to its monumentality and by its association with Villa Gourigon.

In August 2006, the approved Central Malta Local Plan (CMLP) had designed the area around the Belvedere from two storey villa area to one that permitted the development of a semi-basement, three floors and a penthouse. The Authority over the past months has studied this policy and evaluated the number of complaints it received from residents and the Local Council. MEPA found that the local plan policy was going to jeopardize the visual integrity of this monument, the belvedere and the visual link with the Lija Parish Church in the background. The establishing of a buffer zone around the belvedere addresses this concern.

For MEPA Chairman Mr Austin Walker this initiative, by the Authority, speaks volumes, he said 'The Authority is aware of its responsibility and duty to safeguard Malta's cultural heritage. Not only do we need to protect the intrinsic value of such an architectural property and monument, but safeguard its visibility to be enjoyed by the public."

visit for info: http://www.mepa.org.mt/Environment/index.htm?Habitats/mainframe_map.htm&1