DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Historic buildings in Malta's capital gain new splendor

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Malta's capital, Valletta, is transforming from a day-trip destination into a place worth lingering.
  • Historic buildings, including old family homes and former banks, are being converted into hotels.
  • The Casa Ellul hotel, opened 12 years ago, marked the beginning of this hospitality revival in Valletta.

Malta's capital, Valletta, once primarily a destination for day-trippers, is now offering compelling reasons for visitors to extend their stay. This shift is driven by the revitalization of its historic structures, which are being repurposed into boutique hotels.

Old family residences, grand palaces, and former bank buildings are undergoing transformations, breathing new life into the city's architectural heritage. A prime example is Casa Ellul, located at number 81 on Old Theatre Street. This neoclassical property, which housed five generations of the Ellul family, was converted into a hotel twelve years ago.

The opening of Casa Ellul is credited with initiating a new wave of hospitality development on the small Mediterranean island nation. The hotel's owners inherited the house from their aunts, Giovanna, Maria, and Risette, who were the last family members to reside there, preserving the historical essence while adapting it for modern tourism.

We inherited the house from our aunts Giovanna, Maria and Risette, the last ones who lived here.

— Hotel OwnerExplaining the origin of the Casa Ellul hotel, highlighting its family history.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog