‘There’s no profit here – it’s survival’ – Marquis de Piro on preserving the last private palazzo in Valletta

At 83, Marquis Nicholas de Piro sits within the historic walls of Casa Rocca Piccola to speak with MaltaCEOs.mt about the house, and his life’s journey.

His eyes glimmer as he recounts his journey—a story of serendipity, dedication, and love for preserving Maltese history. “This house is completely sentimental,” he says with a warm smile, emphasising his unwavering passion for showcasing Malta beyond its Knights.

Mr de Piro’s Maltese connection strengthened in 1990 when his family decided to relocate from England. “My parents were getting old, and they struggled with keeping Casa Rocca Piccola, which is a big house,” he recalls. At the time, Mr de Piro had a lease on Painswick House, a historic English manor in Gloucestershire, England. “I wasn’t interested at first when I was offered a 20-year lease for £100 a year,” he chuckles. “But I did it anyway.” Over time, he restored Painswick House, even hosting a successful public fair, despite the hurdles. “We made £300 profit and got 900 visitors! It was chaotic, but rewarding.”

“I did something illegal to promote the event…” he says, with a cheeky look on his face. “I put out an advertisement in the local newspaper saying that grannies will enter for free, but grandpas still have to pay. Obviously you can’t do that because that would be discriminating, but everyone thought it was funny, and it worked,” he said.

After nearly two decades in England, a new chapter began. “My lease was still going, but my landlord wanted the house back,” he shared.

And, with his elderly parents struggling to maintain the historic Valletta palazzo, Mr de Piro set his sights on Malta: “I thought Casa Rocca Piccola was special—it’s the last of its kind in Valletta that hasn’t become a bank or office.” Despite initial resistance from his parents— “they told me ‘they’re going to rob you!’”— Mr de Piro chose to return to Malta, taking on the challenge of restoring the family home and opening it to the public.

As Mr de Piro gestures towards portraits of his ancestors, he speaks proudly: “If you see these portraits, you see nine generations of Maltese faces. Museums should focus on naïve art like this, not just the famous artists. Many Maltese couldn’t afford Mattia Preti or Favray.” His passion for overlooked elements of culture shines through as he continues to reveal the treasures within the walls, from artefacts like the only known set of doctors’ instruments from the Knights of St John, to humble objects like bills dating back to the 18th century. “I found a bill for a doctor who treated a slave. It’s a small, unimportant thing, but it’s still part of our story.”

Throughout the conversation, the Marquis’s wit never wavers. “The most valuable thing in this house? My wife,” he declares with a grin, speaking as affectionately of his family as he does of the home that has defined much of his life’s work. But it’s clear that, despite his age, Mr de Piro’s determination remains steadfast. “I’m still teaching myself. I could have been bored in an old people’s home, but instead, I’m here. My memory falters sometimes, but I haven’t gone completely gaga yet.”

Running Casa Rocca Piccola, however, isn’t without its challenges. “We don’t get any funds from anyone. If we get extra money, we put it back into the house. There’s no profit here—it’s survival.” Even so, Mr de Piro continues to gather relics of Malta’s past, some of which might be considered “junk” by others, but for him, they hold significance in piecing together Maltese history.

In the house, there are also two chapels. “In the old days, every family had a priest,” Mr de Piro notes, with the chapel dedicated to Saint Cajetan. “We explain to visitors how the kitchen used to be far from the dining room because back then they didn’t have fridges, so you could imagine the smell with rabbits and chickens in the kitchen.” Today, the kitchen serves as a restaurant in the same block, a reflection of how time changes, yet much remains preserved.

His fascination with Malta’s evolving history is apparent in his musings on property, particularly in Valletta. “When I came here in 1990, I bought a little house on Republic Street for Lm3,000. I later sold it, thinking I was clever, but it was the biggest mistake I ever made! Who knows what it’s worth now?”

Although filled with tales of the past, the Marquis has his eyes on the future, especially when it comes to creating new opportunities for Maltese heritage. “We need more space for things like costume collections,” he says, and praises the work of Caroline Tonna and Francesca Balzan, esteemed artistic directors who are doing the utmost to preserve vintage clothes and jewelry. “But the Government should step in. There are empty houses that could be used for this,” Mr de Piro adds.

It’s clear that Marquis Nicholas de Piro’s life is interwoven with Malta’s history. Through his stewardship of Casa Rocca Piccola, he is preserving the past and shaping the understanding of Malta’s heritage for future generations. “This house is not just about the Knights,” he says with conviction. “It’s about the Maltese ambitions, the people, and their stories.”