Mediterranean Conference Centre
Mediterranean Conference Centre | |
---|---|
Dar il-Mediterran għall-Konferenzi | |
Former names | Sacra Infermeria Holy Infirmary |
Alternative names | MCC |
General information | |
Status | Intact |
Type | Hospital (now conference centre) |
Location | Valletta, Malta |
Coordinates | 35°53′58.2″N 14°31′4.8″E / 35.899500°N 14.518000°E |
Construction started | 1574 |
Renovated | 1596–1712 |
Owner | Government of Malta |
Technical details | |
Material | Limestone |
Floor area | 7,000 m2 (75,000 sq ft)[1] |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | probably Girolamo Cassar |
Website | |
www.mcc.com.mt |
The Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC, Maltese: Dar il-Mediterran għall-Konferenzi) is a conference centre in Valletta, Malta. The building was built as a hospital in the 16th century by the Order of St. John, and it was known as the Sacra Infermeria or the Holy Infirmary (Maltese: Il-Furmarija).[2][3] It was known as the Grand Hôspital during the French occupation of Malta[4] and during the British period was named as the Station Hospital.[5]
It was one of the leading hospitals in Europe until the 18th century, and it remained in use until 1920.[6] It had a capacity to keep from 500 to 2,500 patients.[7] The building is now used for multiple banquets, exhibitions, international conventions and theatrical shows.
History
Hospital
The Holy Infirmary was ordered to be built by
It was meant to receive Maltese and foreign patients, as well as to provide lodging to pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land. It also had two pharmacies. In 1596 a phalange was built, which was meant to accommodate the patients with venereal and contagious diseases. In 1636, one of the pharmacies was closed down.
During the reign of Grand Master
When the
The new General Hospital now became a Station Hospital to accommodate the wounded British soldiers being brought in by Hospital ships. This was done due to its strategic position overlooking the
The Station Hospital was brought to an end in 1918, by the conclusion of the Great War.[10]
Subsequent uses
From 1920 until May 1940 it served as the headquarters of the
The centre has since housed many conferences, meetings, summits and other events, such as the
The Sacra Infermeria is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[6]
On 20 November 2016, the centre was the official venue for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest of the same year. It also held the 2016 Malta Eurovision Song Contest earlier that year in January. The venue was also used for 'Vocal Aid' singings by Stage Coach Malta.
Architecture
The Sacra Infermeria originally had two wards with a central courtyard, but was subsequently enlarged to have six large wards.[6] The main hall was once the largest hall in Europe with a length of 480 feet.[13][14] It also has a monumental staircase designed in form of flight of stairs going down against a wall and then turn midway opposite the other side of the wall.[15] The corridors and underground halls have vaulted ceilings in the form of a cross.[16]
Further reading
- Cassar, Paul (1946). "The Hospital of the Order of St. John in Malta" (PDF). Scientia. 12 (2): 59–71.
- Critien, A. (1948). "A Round of the Holy Infirmary Wards" (PDF). Scientia. 14 (3): 112–127.
References
- ^ "Malta Country Report 2008: The largest conference centre of the island of Malta". CountryProfiler Malta Limited. 17 September 2008: 125.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Cassar Pullicino, Joseph (October–December 1949). "The Order of St. John in Maltese folk-memory" (PDF). Scientia. 15 (4): 160. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
- OCLC 830362895.
- ISBN 978-1326482220.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b c "Sacra Infermeria" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ Degiorgio, Stephen. "Palaces and Lodgings of the Knights of St John at Malta". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ^ "The Maltese Architect Gerolamo Cassar". Malta Architecture. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015.
- ISBN 9789993291329.
- ^ a b c d e f "Is-Sacra InfErmeria" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. 15 December 2018.
- ^ "Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939". Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016.
- ^ Attard, Rachel (31 October 2015). "8,000 people, many heads of state participating in Valletta Summit on Migration and CHOGM". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 15 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "The Mediterranean Its Storied Cities and Venerable Ruins" (PDF). gutenberg.readingroo.ms. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Cassar Pullicino, Joseph (October–December 1949). "The Order of St. John in Maltese folk-memory" (PDF). Scientia. 15 (4): 149. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
- ISBN 9990944024.
- ISBN 978-88-98546-59-6. Archived from the original(PDF) on 16 June 2017.
External links
Media related to Mediterranean Conference Centre at Wikimedia Commons