Heritage committee objects to Vassallo’s Villa Alhambra plans

The planning application presented by Nazzareno Vassallo seeks to develop two street-level garages as well as to restore the original façade onto Tonna Street and reconstruct the original back garden balcony.

But the HAC considers the changes as “too drastic” and not permissible according to the terms of the scheduling of the building. Works proposed in the garden and the façade are deemed to create a negative impact.

Only minimal restoration works are permitted in buildings which enjoy the maximum Grade 1 protection granted by MEPA.  

Villa Alhambra was designed by chief government architect Emmanuel Luigi Galizia in the mid-19th century and even served as his summer residence. The oriental style of Villa Alhambra is very similar to that of the Turkish cemetery in Marsa, also built by Architect Galizia.