The Loġġa tal-Palju, located
just below Saqqajja, was an arched grandstand used by Hospitaller dignitaries
for the award ceremonies for the Imnarja horse races, celebrated yearly on 29 June
on the feast of St Peter and St Paul. It was built in 1696 during the reign of Grand
Master Adrien de Wignacourt to the design of the Maltesel architect Lorenzo
Gafa following a petition by the Capitano della Verga of Mdina, Giovanni
Gourgion, in order to replace an earlier timber structure which had been used
for the purpose but was often damaged by strong winds.
The central feature of
this building is a loggia facing south east, covered with a roof supported on
arches. It was from here that the winners of the races were presented with a palju
by the Grand Master. Flanking this central structure stand two small square
rooms and further out are what appear to have been two free-standing lateral viewing
platforms, both of which have open echaugettes. It is not yet clear when the
latter were constructed and what purposes they were meant to serve.
The Loġġa tal-Palju was
first included in the Antiquities Protection List of 1932 and was later scheduled
by MEPA as a Grade 1 national monument in 2009. The building also falls within the
Urban Conservation Area of Rabat, as well as the Rabat and Mdina Area of
Archaeological Importance and the Area
of High Landscape Value (Rural) of Is-Saqqajja (part of the Mdina AHLV),
Tal-Plieri and It-Tafal tal-Imdina.
The Loġġa tal-Palju lay abandoned and neglected for many. The main
concern with the state of its conservation was the high levels of humidity in its
walls, as well as the overall neglect and lack of maintenance. As a result, the
damage to the roofs and external spaces were addressed first followed by the
internal spaces. This entailed repairs to the roof structure and roof screed,
the removal of vegetation and the treatment of the flaking masonry, biological
growth, black crust and open joints. The walls and ceilings were re-pointed and
re-plastered. The timber apertures were also in need of treatment while all
unwanted modern metal fixtures, such as nails, hooks, electricity brackets,
metal conduits, etc. were carefully removed.