h2>"Passion, Character and Pizza in the Heart of Mdina"
Palazzo Costanzo was built by a member of the Costanzo family Giovanni Battista, married to Rosa di Noto Cumbo, in the 17th century. The Costanzos, a noble family from the feudal Kingdom of Naples had come to settle here early in the century and in 1666-7 Tommaso Costanzo, married to Polixena Bonnici a member of the Maltese aristocracy, was the first of the family to serve as a judge in the Universita, or government of Mdina, then known as the Citta Notabile.
Charles Ill King of Sicily and Naples conferred the title of Duke of Paganica on Tommaso Costanzo's grandson, Ignazio, in 1758. Records show that the Costanzo family had enjoyed high social standing before their arrival in Malta. Piero Costanzo was a senator in Messina. Giovanni was a judge in Palermo from 1478-82 and Matteo was a commander with the Knights of Malta in 1482. In Caltagirone Francesco Costanzo was a giurato in 1542 while in Taormina Giuseppe stood for the same office in 1633 and some fifty years later a Giuseppe Costanzo was registered as a lawyer in Tortorici. Another Francesco, Baron of Santo Bartolomeo had a palace in Mirto. Diplomas held in Sicilian archives show that in 1774 Giuseppe Gaetano held office and a Vincenzo was the noble Acatapano of Acireale in 1756.
The Palazzo has been the home of many distinguished figures among whom were supporters of Garibaldi and members of the secret society of the Carbonari who are believed to have been hidden here. From Ignazio the palace passed to his sister Eleonora Costanzo who then married a Maltese Marquis Antonio De Piro. Through marriage connections in 1883 the Palazzo was then inherited by the Maltese Felicissimo Apap, Marquis of Gnien is-Sultan, a scion of ancient lineage. He married Carmela dei Conti Manduca. The couple, both ancestors of the current owners hosted all Mdina's prominent families. It was subsequently leased to the RAF during the Second World War as an officer's mess and then converted to a convent school for girls in the 1950s.
Palazzo Costanzo is currently being restored to its original Baroque style retaining all the aspects of a Maltese Gentleman's home with unique architectural features and enchanting vaulted chambers. The building was later converted into a restaurant and it is scheduled as a Grade 1 monument and it is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.
We hope you enjoy the unique atmosphere this building helps to create