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Casa
Bernard

Casa
Bernard

A gem in Rabat's streets

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.

A Wealth Of History

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.

Owners Past & Present

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.

Your Visit

Guided Tours

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 🇫🇷.

Authentic to the core

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.

Award Winning

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.”

GALLERY

Get a taste of Casa Bernard

What our visitors have said

  • star rating  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

    catpeople25
    July 20, 2020

    star rating  I can't tell you how much we enjoyed our visit to Casa Bernard. Ringing the doorbell and being given a warm welcome gave us the feeling that we were visiting... read more

    lupabianca
    January 5, 2020

    star rating  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

    euro26
    February 11, 2020
  • star rating  We visited Casa Bernard in Rabat during our holiday in Malta as we were staying close by. The house is beautiful and has been restored to such a high... read more

    melaniehW9404DX
    May 21, 2022

    star rating  Great attraction, very interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable. One of the best historic houses on the island. A must see

    800rianng
    November 19, 2021

    star rating  Arrived at the site unannounced but immediately greeted by the owner who quickly arranged for us to have a fully guided tour. An absolutely fascinating house full of history... read more

    T0ny33
    September 9, 2019

Booking your tour

  • Between the 15th of June and the 15th of September we are open from 10AM to 1PM.
  • Throughout the rest of the year, we are open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

Other tours by appointment; please email us by clicking the button below

Find us:
Casa Bernard
46, Triq San Pawl
Ir-Rabat,
Malta

Address

Georges & Josette Magri

Casa Bernard

46, Triq San Pawl

Ir-Rabat,
Malta