Palazzo Parisio stands on the main square of Naxxar and is one of Malta's most opulent stately homes. Built on the site of an earlier palace commissioned by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena, it was transformed in the early 20th century by the Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna into a lavish residence often compared to a miniature Versailles.
Behind the palace lie formal gardens in the Baroque style, with clipped hedges, fountains, citrus trees and a sunken Italianate parterre. The gardens offer a green retreat that contrasts with the richly decorated staterooms, ballroom and chapel inside.
The palace and its gardens remain in private ownership but are open to visitors, and the grounds are a popular setting for events and quiet afternoon visits.
