Constructed to elevate the souls of men and women to heaven, the Church of Our Lady of Pilar was commissioned by the Spanish Knights to praise God and the Virgin Mary and inspire all those who entered it. After Auberge d’ Aragon was built, the need for a chapel to serve the langue was strongly felt, and some knights took up the mantle to sate their needs.
Built in the 1670s the chapel quickly saw the burial of its most generous benefactor, the Bailiff Fra Inniquez de Ayerba in 1691, but only two years later, disaster struck the chapel as parts of it were damaged by the earthquake of 1693. Under the patronage of Grandmaster Ramon Perellos y Roccaful, the church was built anew. Resident architect and engineer Romano Carapecchia was entrusted with the task of remodelling the chapel. His distinct taste and talent is reflected in the genius with which he managed to include all the features required by canon law in building new churches. Faced with the challenge of building a functional yet stylish building on land that was quite restrictive, he delivered greatly, leaving us today with a gem of High Baroque architecture.
After the Knights Hospitallier left the island, the chapel and its treasures, including the titular painting by Stefano Erardi passed on to the state, as it remains till this day. Although no longer serving the Aragonese Knights, the chapel continues to play an important role in the community, having for years been both a place for the teaching of catholic doctrine, and a school run by the Franciscan Sisters of Valletta. In 2007 it was entrusted to Heritage Malta to ensure its upkeep and safeguard its future.
As guardians of over 8,000 years of history, Heritage Malta is the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage.
MUŻA is the National Museum of Art, branded as the Malta National-Community Art Museum.
Arts Council Malta is the national agency for development and investment in the cultural and creative sectors.
The Malta Tourism Authority is the main regulator and motivator for the tourism industry in Malta. The MTA Is also the industry’s motivator, its business partner, Malta’s brand promoter, and sees to it that meaningful partnerships with all the tourism stakeholders are formed, maintained, and managed.
Spazju Kreattiv is a programme of creative arts and cultural events. Established by Fondazzjoni Kreattività in the year 2000, our home is in St James Cavalier, Valletta, a 16th century fort converted into the National Centre for Creativity.
