About
Casa Rocca Piccola is a noble palace in Valletta, the capital of Malta, set within the old walled city. Dating from the 16th century, it is still a family home, lived in by the de Piro family, which gives a visit an unusual quality: you are walking through rooms that are used, not simply preserved.
What a visit is like
Visits are guided tours, and they take you through the palace's rooms at the pace of the story being told. The rooms are furnished with period pieces and family heirlooms, so the interiors show how an aristocratic household has lived over the centuries rather than presenting a static display. Many visitors come for exactly this sense of continuity, seeing objects that have stayed with one family through generations.
Why it suits a visit
- It offers a close look at private aristocratic life, a side of Valletta's history that larger public monuments do not show.
- The guided format brings the family's stories and the objects together, so the rooms make more sense than they would on a quick walk-through.
- Because the palace is still lived in, the atmosphere is personal and intimate rather than museum-like.
Around the palace
Casa Rocca Piccola sits in the heart of Valletta, a compact city of narrow streets, stone architecture and fortifications overlooking the harbour. Between tours, you can spend time wandering the surrounding streets, visiting other churches and historic buildings, or stopping for a meal nearby. Allow a relaxed half-day so the visit and the walk around the old city can both be enjoyed without rushing.