Pinto's Loggia

Pinto's Loggia or Pinto's Lodge (Maltese: It-Tribuna ta' Pinto - Il-Loġġa ta' Pinto), is a loggia in Qormi, Malta. It was built in 1772 to commemorate the 31st year of Manuel Pinto da Fonseca's magistracy, and it is now a landmark and symbol of Qormi.

Pinto's Loggia
It-Tribuna ta' Pinto
View of Pinto's Loggia
Alternative namesPinto's Lodge
General information
StatusIntact
TypeLoggia
LocationQormi, Malta
Coordinates35°52′35.2″N 14°28′36.1″E
Named forManuel Pinto da Fonseca
Completed1772
Technical details
MaterialLimestone

History

Pinto's Loggia was built in 1772, marking the 31st year of the reign of Manuel Pinto da Fonseca as Grand Master of the Order of St. John. Qormi had been granted city status as Città Pinto on 25 May 1743, and the city still bears Pinto's coat of arms as its symbol.[1] The structure is supported by four columns, and it is decorated with Pinto's coat of arms and a Latin inscription. According to tradition, Pinto used to sit in the loggia to shade himself while watching horse racing,[2] but its original purpose is still unclear.[3]

The farmhouse complex, used as stables

The loggia was originally part of a large farmhouse complex which included stables for the Grand Master's horses, but the farmhouses were demolished in 1981 to make way for modern houses.[4] The Parish Church of St. Sebastian was later built in the vicinity of the loggia.[3]

The loggia was restored in 1987[5] in 2002 and again in 2018 by the Local Council.[2] A street market is held in the street and square near the loggia every Saturday morning,[3] and it also serves as a backdrop for the annual Ħal Qormi Day.[2]

Further reading

References
  1. Zammit, Vincent (1992). Il-Gran Mastri – Ġabra ta' Tagħrif dwar l-Istorja ta' Malta fi Żmienhom – It-Tieni Volum 1680–1798 (in Maltese). Valletta: Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd. pp. 427–428.
  2. "Important Residences". lc.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
  3. Twitchell-Waas, Jeffrey (2011). Ħal Qormi – Four walks through a historic city (PDF). Valletta: Din l-Art Ħelwa. pp. 43–44. ISBN 9789995731021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2016.
  4. "Residenzi Importanti". lc.gov.mt (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
  5. Guillaumier, Alfie (1987). Bliet u Rħula Maltin (in Maltese). Valletta: Valletta Publishing & Promotion Co. Ltd. pp. 609–610.


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