The stunning gardens have received some much-needed TLC and are ready to show it off!
This weekend, step through the breath-taking gardens at Villa Frere to discover a world of beauty. Heritage Malta, in collaboration with NGO Friends of Villa Frere, are inviting the public on Sunday 19th May to visit the intriguing gardens in Pieta.
The restoration process
The two organisations teamed up a few months back to ensure promotion, public availability and the running and operation of this historical site.
For many years, these beautiful botanic gardens went unnoticed and their plight was largely unknown to the public, until architect Edward Said stumbled upon them in 2013. The strangely forlorn Doric tempietto standing at the rear of St Luke’s Hospital was a clue to figuring out that the abandoned gardens were hidden close by.
The gorgeous gardens
Villa Frere gardens were created by British diplomat, poet, scholar and philanthropist John Hookham Frere, after the demise of his wife in 1831, as a means of comfort for his sadness. From these gardens, which enjoyed wide open views spanning from Mdina to Valletta, he could also look out at the Msida Bastion Cemetery, where his wife reposed. The place became a sanctuary for numerous academics, most famously Mikiel Anton Vassalli, who reportedly discussed with Frere on how to establish Maltese as a written and taught language.
Time’s fate
The romantic story faded away after Frere’s death in 1846. The site fell into neglect until 40 years later, when the villa became the residence of Captain Edward Price. A notable garden enthusiast, he gave life back to the property, earning it the title of a botanic garden.
The place became a prominent attraction both to locals and foreigners. Renowned artists, painters, scholars and even three monarchs have walked inside these lush grounds. In 1930, the gardens attained international fame when they were featured in Country Life Magazine, a leading landscaping periodical.
The gardens today
Nowadays, just over a third of the original area survives, including the house, yet their mystique and wonder still linger. NGO Friends of Villa Frere has been working hard to protect what remains and to restore the gardens to their former glory once again.
Sunday’s tour
The tour will include a visit to the gardens of Villa Frere - entrance is through St Luke’s Hospital. Tours will run from 9am to 5pm (last tour at 4pm), with a donation fee of €2 per person.
Tickets can be acquired from all Heritage Malta museums and sites, and online on the website www.heritagemalta.org. Hurry and get your tickets, because none will be available at the door, and this site is not one to be missed out on!