Casa Rocca Piccola

Casa Rocca Piccola is a noble palazzo at 74 Republic Street in Valletta, Malta, still lived in by the de Piro family, whose ancestors hold the title of marquis. Unlike most of the island's museums, it remains a family home, which gives the visit an intimate character. The house was built in the 16th century for an Italian knight of the Order of St John and has been altered over the centuries. The standard visit is a guided tour of about 45 minutes, with English tours running on the hour. Guides lead visitors through reception rooms, a dining room, a bedroom, a library and a chapel, pointing out family portraits, antique furniture, silverware, porcelain and a collection of costumes and everyday items that show how Maltese nobility lived. A highlight is the descent to an air-raid shelter dug beneath the house, used during the Second World War bombing of Malta, which gives a direct sense of civilian life during the siege. At the back of the house a small garden offers some quiet. Visitors typically spend about an hour. The house is reported to open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:00, and to close on Sundays, Good Friday, Christmas Day and 15 August; the official site, casarocca.com, should be checked for current times. Because tours depart on the hour and group sizes are limited by the house itself, arriving at the start of an hour avoids waiting. Photography rules are set by the house and the guide will explain them at the start. Crowds are modest compared with Valletta's major sights, and weekday mornings tend to be the quietest. The palazzo is about 10 minutes on foot from City Gate along Republic Street.