Welcome to Casa Bernard, a 16th Century Palazzo which has recently been restored to its pristine splendour.
Casa Bernard is not a museum but our private family home, combining beautiful architectural features with a rich historical evolution.
Originally starting life as a mediaeval watch-tower built on Roman foundations, Casa Bernard progressed to a double-fronted Palazzo in the mid 16th Century, and was then given some Baroque additions later.
Walk down any old winding Maltese street with limestone walls and wooden balconies, and you’ll find very few clues of what lies within the often crumbling façades. For hundreds of years, important houses in Malta were purposely built to give little indication of what lies inside, as it could be dangerous for its affluent owners.
Casa Bernard in Rabat is a case in point. Its façade is unpretentious and belies the history, elegance, and charm of what is inside.
We call Casa Bernard a 16th century palace but in truth the building has seen a gradual evolution over the centuries, starting off from Roman times. There are traces of Roman arches in the cellar, part of which is now utilised as a family chapel.
The restoration of the house is a work of love and attention to detail by Casa Bernard’s current owners. Its many historical features date from the Roman period to the Mediaeval and to the time of the Knights of St John.
The name of the house – Casa Bernard – was chosen because in 1723 Dr Salvatore Bernard, who was of French origin and the personal physician of the Grand Master of Malta, started living in this palazzo.
The Bernards were a family of doctors and lived here until the second quarter of the 20th century. The current owners, Mr and Mrs Magri, only got their hands on this gem in 1993 when works to revive it to its former glory were started.
Guided tours take you through the barrel-vaulted hallway, the chapel, the dining room, the three drawing rooms, the library, and the main bedroom, with a guide explaining the significance of pieces of furniture, paintings and objets d’art which till a short while ago were not available for public viewing. The visit ends with a tour of the courtyard and garden.
Our tours are held in English 🇬🇧, Maltese 🇲🇹, Italian 🇮🇹, and French 🇫🇷.
This magnificent house has a fascinating history and the tours are conducted by the knowledgeable owners themselves. Georges and Josette Magri, both teachers by profession, retired a few years ago and now live permanently in Casa Bernard and so the residence does not feel like a museum but a genuine reflection of the bygone local aristocratic way of life.
Casa Bernard won the 2006 Europa Nostra award in the Special Mention Category for its splendid restoration and was acclaimed as, “an exercise in good taste and as one of Malta’s hidden gems, full of the charm of bygone days.”
One of the highlights of Casa Bernard is meeting your hosts, the owners Georges and Josette Magri.
Mr and Mrs Magri, both retired schoolteachers, bought the rundown palazzo in 1993, thus beginning a two decade long journey of loving restoration, turning Casa Bernard into what has been called a “very personal museum” and “one of the best private house tours you can find in Europe“.
They regularly conduct tours themselves, and regale guests with stories about every item in the house.
We so enjoyed our visit to Casa Bernard we were shown around by the delightfully engaging and informative Frances. There were just 4 of us in our group and it... read more
Just Think! You ring the doorbell, it’s answered by a delightfully welcoming gentleman who says he will show you round his family home. The history! In the... read more
This is a beautiful house which has been lovingly renovated to bring out the best features of its historical past which dates back to roman times. The house has many... read more
We are open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm.
Other tours by appointment; please email us by clicking the button below
Find us:
Casa Bernard
46, Triq San Pawl
Ir-Rabat,
Malta
Georges & Josette Magri
Casa Bernard
46, Triq San Pawl
Ir-Rabat,
Malta
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