Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum is the second oldest building still standing in the walled city of Mdina, Malta’s former capital city. Formerly known as “Palazzo Cumbo-Navarra”, “Casa dei Castelletti” and “The Norman House”, it was re-opened to the public in May 2007 after a major restoration intervention undertaken by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti (Maltese Heritage Foundation).

The origins of Palazzo Falson go back to the early 13th century. Palazzo Falson is a two-storey medieval palace fashioned on Sicilian examples of its period, purposely built as a family residence by the Maltese nobility. It consists of a series of rooms wrapped around an internal courtyard, and an overlying piano nobile (the noble floor or level) which contains the original living quarters. The set of rooms at the back of the courtyard form the oldest part of the building.

In the early 16th century, the property was inherited by the Vice Admiral Michele Falson, who was the Head of the Town Council. After Malta was donated to the Knights of the Order of St. John by Emperor Charles V, Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L’Isle Adam, the first Grand Master in Malta, was hosted by Maltese nobles at Palazzo Falson after a ceremony in which he took possession of Mdina on 13 November 1530.

Its most recent owner and resident, Captain Olof Frederick Gollcher O.B.E. (1889-1962) of Swedish descent, was a distinguished man who received a number of honours. He was a researcher, artist, philanthropist and a passionate collector of objets d’art and historical items, putting together an extraordinarily rich collection which is now on display in this Palazzo. This House Museum is one of the finest cultural attractions on the island.

The Collection is a unique and extraordinary treasure-trove of over 3,500 objects, made up of forty-five specific collections spread over 17 rooms of this house museum, which include paintings, silver, furniture, jewellery, Oriental rugs and armoury, as well as a remarkable library containing over 4,500 books, and some highly valuable manuscripts. The paintings collection includes a number of significant 17th century works including ones attributed to Mattia Preti, Jusepe de Ribera, Jakob-Ferdinand Voet, Charles Beale and Juriaen van Streeck.

From the cafeteria on the terrace on the upper floor you can enjoy the magnificent views of Mdina and beyond.