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 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]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corte Capitanale.
^. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Collection. University of Manchester: 25. 1877. JSTOR 60231726. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
^. romeartlover.tripod.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015.
^Borg, Josep Q. (September 2018). (PDF). Il-Pulizija: Xogħolna u ħajjitna fil-Korp (in Maltese). 25 (3): 52–54. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2019.
^. lc.gov.mt. Archived from the original on 30 November 2015.
^. The Malta Independent. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2015.
^Borg, Victor Paul (2002). The Rough Guide to Malta & Gozo. Rough Guides. p. 127. ISBN9781858286808.
^ abc(PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2015.
^(PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2015.
January 01, 1970
corte, capitanale, former, courthouse, mdina, malta, which, currently, serves, city, hall, built, baroque, style, between, 1726, 1728, designs, french, architect, charles, françois, mondion, building, linked, palazzo, vilhena, entrance, façade, façade, general. 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 Francois de Mondion The building is linked to Palazzo Vilhena but it has its own entrance and facade Corte CapitanaleFacade of the Corte CapitanaleGeneral informationStatusIntactTypeCourthouseArchitectural styleBaroqueLocationMdina MaltaCoordinates35 53 5 81 N 14 24 14 9 E 35 8849472 N 14 404139 E 35 8849472 14 404139Current tenantsMdina Local CouncilConstruction started1726Completed1728OwnerGovernment of MaltaTechnical detailsMaterialLimestoneFloor count2Design and constructionArchitect s Charles Francois de MondionHistory editThe 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 nbsp 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 edit nbsp Herald s Loggia The Corte Capitanale is built in the French Baroque style The facade 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 facade 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 edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corte Capitanale 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 Mdina page two romeartlover tripod com Archived from the original on 12 January 2015 https www um edu mt library oar bitstream 123456789 41629 1 Tobba Maltin matul iz zminijiet 1989 pdf bare URL PDF 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 Our Contact Details lc gov mt Archived from the original on 30 November 2015 Mdina Council wants to use Banca Giuratale The Malta Independent 20 February 2012 Archived from the original on 28 November 2015 Borg Victor Paul 2002 The Rough Guide to Malta amp Gozo Rough Guides p 127 ISBN 9781858286808 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 a b c 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 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Corte Capitanale amp oldid 1076637613, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
