| Villa Francia | |
|---|---|
 Villa Francia as seen from the front garden | |
 | |
| Former names | Palazzo Preziosi, Villa Preziosi, Palazzo Francia |
| General information | |
| Status | Intact |
| Type | Palace |
| Architectural style | Palladian exterior Sicilian Baroque interior |
| Location | Lija, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°54′11.86″N 14°26′43.18″E / 35.9032944°N 14.4453278°E |
| Current tenants | Government of Malta |
| Named for | Initially Count Francesco Preziosi, now William Nathaniel (Fenton) Francia |
| Completed | c. 1757 |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone |
Villa Francia, initially named Palazzo Francia, then named Villa Preziosi, and officially known as Palazzo Francia[1][2] and Francia Estate,[3] is an 18th-century palace in Lija, Malta. The palace was built circa 1757,[4] by Francesco Preziosi,[5] with baroque architecture that gave a sense of pride and power to noble people at the time. The first ambitious owner became bankrupt[4] with the expenses of the palace, to make it an outstanding and incomparable building, and because of this he was pressured to sell his possession by the Order of St. John to pay his accumulated debts.[6][7]
The street where the palace is located is named after the initial name of the palace, as Preziosi Street.[8] The palace was bought by the Francia family and later passed to the Government of Malta. It is currently the official residence of the Prime Minister of Malta. The building should not be confused with formerly named Palazzo Francia, today Palazzo Ferreria.[9]
- ^ "Malta Environment & Planning Authority". MEPA. Archived from the original on 2015-12-27. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of the Maltese islands (15)". Mepa.org.mt. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "Department of Information". Doi-archived.gov.mt. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Malta Environment & Planning Authority". MEPA. Archived from the original on 2015-12-27. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ^ "Fondi Ewropej għar-restawr ta' partijiet minn Villa Francia f'Ħal Lija". Tvm.com.mt. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- ^ "Villa Francia Restored to original beauty and open to the public - The Malta Independent". independent.com.mt.
- ^ "Visitors throng to Villa Francia". Times of Malta.
- ^ "Palazzo Francia" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "Malta Environment & Planning Authority". MEPA. Archived from the original on 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2015-09-19.