Corte Capitanale

The Corte Capitanale is a former courthouse in Mdina, Malta, which currently serves as a city hall. It was built in the Baroque style between 1726 and 1728, to designs of the French architect Charles François de Mondion. The building is linked to Palazzo Vilhena, but it has its own entrance and façade.

Corte Capitanale
Façade of the Corte Capitanale
General information
StatusIntact
TypeCourthouse
Architectural styleBaroque
LocationMdina, Malta
Coordinates35°53′5.81″N 14°24′14.9″E
Current tenantsMdina Local Council
Construction started1726
Completed1728
OwnerGovernment of Malta
Technical details
MaterialLimestone
Floor count2
Design and construction
ArchitectCharles François de Mondion

History

The Corte Capitanale was built between 1726 and 1728 along with the rest of Palazzo Vilhena, the Grand Master's official residence in Mdina. The building was mainly a courthouse, but it also served as the seat of the Capitano della Verga.[1]

Stairway with the doors of the courtrooms

Its linking to the palace was a symbolic gesture to convey the fact that the courts were under the jurisdiction of the Order of St. John. The courthouse was also linked to the Bishop's Palace through a now-blocked underground passage, indicating the Church's role in the courts.[2]

During the French occupation of Malta, a Maltese doctor was accused of spying for the French by the Maltese insurgents. Despite not being found guilty by the court, the Maltese requested for him to be given a death sentence. Though the judge refused their demand, the Maltese assassinated him as soon as he exited the building.[3]

In 1813 Civil Commissioner Alexander Ball terminated and transferred the judicial power of the Corte Capitanale of Mdina to the Castellania in Valletta.[4]

Today, the Corte Capitanale is Mdina's city hall, being the seat of the city's local council.[5] The council considers the building as inadequate, and in 2012 it requested to move its premises to the Banca Giuratale.[6] It is not regularly open to the public, but the main hall is occasionally open with temporary historical or cultural exhibitions.[7]

The building was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.[8] It is now a Grade 1 national monument and it is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[9]

Architecture
Herald's Loggia

The Corte Capitanale is built in the French Baroque style. The façade is decorated by superimposed Tuscan and Corinthian pilasters, and a cornice along roof level. A balcony is located above the main doorway, and it is decorated with allegorical statues of Justice and Mercy. The inscription Legibus et Armis (by using laws and arms) is inscribed below the centrepiece of the façade.[9]

The courthouse incorporates some prison cells and dungeons, which had been built in the 16th century.[9] The building is also linked to a loggia known as Herald's Loggia, from which town criers used to announce decrees to the people. The loggia also predates the courthouse, and it is believed to date to the 17th century.[10]

References
  1. "Statement of all the property transferred to the military and naval authorities from the year 1816 to the end of 1875 with appendix". Foreign and Commonwealth Office Collection. University of Manchester: 25. 1877. JSTOR 60231726. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  2. "Mdina - page two". romeartlover.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015.
  3. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/41629/1/Tobba_Maltin_matul_iz-zminijiet_1989.pdf
  4. Borg, Josep Q. (September 2018). "Il-Forka f 'Malta u l-Istejjer madwarha" (PDF). Il-Pulizija: Xogħolna u ħajjitna fil-Korp (in Maltese). 25 (3): 52–54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2019.
  5. "Our Contact Details". lc.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 30 November 2015.
  6. "Mdina Council wants to use Banca Giuratale". The Malta Independent. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2015.
  7. Borg, Victor Paul (2002). The Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo. Rough Guides. p. 127. ISBN 9781858286808.
  8. "Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939". Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016.
  9. "Corte Capitanale" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2015.
  10. "Herald's Loggia" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2015.


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