Palazzo Falson: The Polymath's Home
For heritage travellers, Mdina offers a distinctive perspective on Malta's layered heritage.
Published · Updated
Within the Silent City of Mdina, Palazzo Falson stands as a monument to the curious mind of Captain Olof Gollcher—a man who spent his life collecting the world.
What to look for
- The Oriental Rug Gallery: A collection of 17th-century Persian and Anatolian rugs that are among the finest in the Mediterranean.
- The Armory: Featuring knightly suits of armor and weaponry from both the East and West.
- The Watch Collection: Including a rare French Revolutionary watch that measures time in decimals—a relic of a failed temporal experiment.
- The Roof Garden: A tranquil space offering views over the Mdina bastions, serving traditional Maltese tea and pastries.
Why it matters
Palazzo Falson is not a typical museum; it is a rare 13th-century medieval palace, but its interior is a 20th-century Cabinet of Curiosities. Captain Gollcher, a descendant of a Swedish shipping family, was an artist, a soldier, and a scholar. He filled the palace with over 4,500 books, rare paintings, and unique artifacts. Walking through the kitchen, with its original stone hearth and copper pots, you feel as though the Captain has just stepped out for a moment.
The library is perhaps the most evocative room—wood-paneled and filled with the scent of old parchment. Here, the Captain conducted his research into Maltese folklore and archaeology. The palace represents a time when the wealthy of Malta were not just consumers of luxury, but curators of culture. The museum's layout preserves this domestic feel, allowing visitors to experience the lived-in history of the Mdina nobility. It is a place that rewards slow observation—a silver snuff box here, a rare map of the Great Siege there. It is the definitive Mdina experience for those who prefer substance over spectacle.