The
Inquisitor’s PalaceOne
of the largest buildings in Birgu is the Inquisitor’s Palace. Built originally
by the Knights of the Order of St John soon after their arrival in 1530 as a
Law Courts, the building started to be used as the Inquisitor’s Palace from
1574 onwards. The original building was small, and it was enlarged by piecemeal
by the Inquisitors that came to Malta. The prison cells were also increased
accordingly. The Palace was the Law Courts of the Holy Tribunal, but it was
also the offices of the same tribunal, the prison, as well as the residence of
the then Inquisitor. The present building dates to the 18th century,
when permission was granted to enlarge and provide the palace with a more
aesthetic façade. The building was used by the British military personnel for a
number of years before it was turned over to the Museums Department after the
end of the First World War. The Dominican Friars made use of the palace as a
temporary church and convent after their own buildings were destroyed during
the Second World War. Today it is open as a Museum.
Il-Palazz ta’ l-Inkwiżitur
Wieħed mill-akbar palazzi li nsibu fil-Birgu, bla dubju ta’ xejn huwa
l-Palazz ta’ l-Inkwiżitur. Oriġinarjament, dan il-bini inbena mill-Kavallieri
ta’ l-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann ftit wara li waslu Malta fl-1530. Il-bini kellu
l-funzjoni ta’ qorti. Beda jintuża bħala l-Palazz ta’ l-Inkwiżitur mill-1574
il-quddiem. Il-bini oriġinali kien ferm iżgħar minn dak li naraw illum, u
tkabbar bil-mod il-mod minn diversi Inkwiżitur li ġew Malta. Iċ-ċelel tal-ħabs ġew
miżjuda skont il-bżonn taż-żmien ukoll. Il-Palazz għandu is-sala tat-tribunal, iżda
fl-istess ħin il-palazz kien l-uffiċju tat-Tribunal, kif ukoll ir-residenza ta’
l-Inkwiżitur. Il-palazz kif narawh illum imur lura għas-seklu 18, meta ingħata
l-permess biex jitkabbar u tinbena faċċata aktar dekoruża għal palazz ta’ l-Inkwiżitur.
Il-bini intuża mill-uffiċjali ta’
l-armata Ingliża għal diversi snin, qabel ma ingħata lid-Dipartiment
tal-Mużewijiet, fit-tmiem ta’ l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija. L-istess palazz intuża
mill-patrijiet Dumnikani bħala l-kunvent tagħhom, kif ukoll knisja temporanja
wara li l-kunvent u l-knisja tagħhom fil-Birgu iġġarrfu matul wieħed
mill-attakki mill-ajru fit-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija. Illum il-ġurnata l-Palazz ta’
l-Inkwiżitur huwa Mużew, u miftuħ għal pubbliku.