Echo of Ugo Mifsud's last speech
Thousands of families visited Villa Francia, in Lija, during an open day yesterday, a day after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
The villa, which was bequeathed to the state by the Francia family, was restored to a pristine condition by Public Works Department employees and Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology students over the last year.
The public yesterday received booklets on the history of the villa, including Sir Ugo Mifsud's last speech in 1942.
The former Prime Minister suffered a heart attack while delivering an address against the British government's decision to deport several Maltese. He died in the villa two days later. The inauguration was held on the 120th anniversary of his birth.
Villa Francia can be visited virtually on www.opm.gov.mt/villafrancia.
2 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Charles Said-vassallo
Sep 14th 2009, 13:19
According to Montalto's book, in 1757 Preziosi was obliged to dispose of all his silver treasures as he owed thousands of scudi. Although the Count was in the employment of Pinto, it was this Grand Master who forced preziosi to sell many of his possessions, and ordered the auction of the Count's precious items to repay some of the larger debts, particularly to the Count's sister. It is probable that Preziosi had grossly overspent in the construction of his magnificent villa at Lija.
Reference: National Library of Malta., lib. 12 p. 219. ; NLM., lib. 13 p. 91.
Charles Said-vassallo
Sep 14th 2009, 10:35
Also from a genealogical view, how it went from the Preziosi family to the Francia family.
http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/francia.html