One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (15)
Church of Our Lady of Pilar
The foundation stone of this church was laid by Grandmaster Nicholas Cotoner in 1674 and its construction was financed from various funds, mainly by the Balì of Majorca Raimondo de Soler and Comm. Felice Inniges de Ayerba.
The church was damaged by the 1693 earthquake which caused the collapse of the dome.
Grandmaster Perellos funded its restoration which resulted in its remodelling to the design of Romano Carapecchia which was completed in 1718.
The church has a narrow façade ingeniously modelled into three bays on two levels with the centre bays projecting slightly. The composition gives the impression that the façade is larger than it actually is.
In the remodelling of the church Carapecchia accentuated the vertical dimension of the façade by having superimposed pilasters of equal heights. The upper columns and pilasters are slightly more slender than the lower ones. The interior is highly decorated with sculpture.
Mepa scheduled the Church of Our Lady of Pilar as a Grade 1 national monument as per Government Notice No. 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28.