Royal Navy Hospital Bighi

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Location: Royal Navy Hospital Bighi , Kalkara.

In 1675 Fra Giovanni Bighi who was the nephew of Pope Alexander VII built a villa in Kalkara to use as a Summer residence. During the British period, expansions were made to the building so that it could function as a hospital and thus it became known as the Royal Naval Hospital Bighi. The innovative and stunning structures of the Royal Naval Hospital Bighi were the result of the work of Sir George Whitmore and Salvatore and Gaetano Xerri. These structures were crucial in stopping the spreading of diseases by focusing on aspects such as sea air circulation and assimilating rounded edges on the walls so that dirt and dust could not fester. As a matter of fact, of all patients that were too sick for their ships doctors, the Royal Naval Hospital Bighi had only 4% mortality rate. In the 1970s, the Royal Navy left the building for the last time and Villa Bighi stopped serving as a hospital. Since 2010, the premise serves as the head office of Heritage Malta: the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. In collaboration with Kottonera Foundation.

Fl-1675 Fra Giovanni Bighi li kien in-neputi tal-Papa Alessandru VII bena villa fil-Kalkara biex jużaha bħala residenza tas-Sajf. Matul il-perjodu Brittaniku, saru diversi espansjonijiet fil-bini biex ikun jista’ jintuża bħala sptar u b’hekk sar magħruf bħala l-Isptar Navali Bighi. L-istrutturi innovativi tal-isptar kienu kruċjali biex iwaqqfu t-tixrid tal-mard. Fil-fatt mill-pazjenti kollha li t-tobba tal-vapuri tagħhom iċċertifikawhom morda serjament, l-Isptar Navali Bighi kellu biss 4% rata ta’ mortalità. Fis-Sebgħinijiet, ir-Royal Navy ħalliet il-binja għall-aħħar darba u Villa Bighi waqfet isservi bħala sptar. Mill-2010 bdiet isservi bħala l-head office ta’ Heritage Malta: l-aġenzija nazzjonali tal-mużewijiet, konservazzjoni prattika u wirt kulturali. B’kollaborazzjoni mal-Fondazzjoni Kottonera.