Holy Infirmary

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Since one of the principal founding vows of the knights of the Order of St John was to care and cure the sick, when the Order arrived in Malta it looked for a place to turn into a hospital. Since the area was already built, some houses were demolished to make space for the new hospital. The foundation stone of the Holy Infirmary was laid by Grand Master L’Isle Adam in November 1532. The construction of the hospital took a year to be completed and it started to operate in 1533. The ground floor of the infirmary was used for the storage of provisions, equipment, and laundry. In 1538, Grand Master D’Homedes decided to expand the hospital thus an additional level was built. The Holy Infirmary closed its doors during the magistracy of Grand Master Lascaris (1635-1657). The Benedictine nuns then asked the Grand Master to be transferred to the unused hospital. This request was granted and the deed was signed in 1643. As requested by the nuns, a part of the old Infirmary was demolished to build St Anne’s church. The church was rebuilt in 1679 on the designs of architect Lorenzo Gafà. The present entrance to the Holy Infirmary is from a side door next to St. Anne’s church. A loggia which faces the garden leads to the main staircase to the wards on the upper floor. Overlooking the courtyard, one finds a sculptured coat of arms of Grand Master L’Isle Adam. In collaboration with Kottonera Foundation.

 

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