St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation has unveiled Grand Ambitions, a major exhibition that pays tribute to the visionary architect Francesco Laparelli da Cortona, whose 16th-century urban design laid the foundation for Valletta.
Central to the opening of this exhibition was a keynote lecture by Professor Conrad Thake from our university's Department of Art and Art History within the Faculty of Arts.
Held in the Caravaggio Wing of St John’s Co-Cathedral, the exhibition runs until Friday 18 July 2025. It features rare original drawings by Laparelli—including a unique map of Malta and four plans of Valletta—on loan for the first time from the Accademia Etrusca di Cortona. These works represent an extraordinary glimpse into the mind of the architect who envisioned Valletta as a fortified yet refined civic and sacred space, later brought to life by his assistant Girolamo Cassar.
Professor Thake’s lecture, Francesco Laparelli and the Genesis of Valletta, was a highlight of the opening evening. Drawing on years of meticulous research, Prof. Thake contextualised Laparelli’s contribution to urban design within the broader framework of Renaissance ideals and the strategic imperatives of the Order of St John. His analysis underscored the fusion of military engineering and humanistic vision in Laparelli’s plans—qualities that remain deeply embedded in Valletta’s cityscape to this day.
The exhibition was inaugurated with a moving organ concert by Josep Solé Coll, the chief organist of St Peter’s Basilica, who set a reverent tone for the occasion. Contributions to the project came from several key figures, including Adriana Alescio, Chief Curatorial and Conservation Officer at the Co-Cathedral; Mr Sandro Adario, representing the Laparelli family; and Dr Patrizia Rocchini, Head Librarian of the Biblioteca Comunale and Accademia Etrusca di Cortona.
Admission to the exhibition is included with a general entry ticket to St John’s Co-Cathedral.
Presented in collaboration with the Comune di Cortona, Accademia Etrusca di Cortona, Biblioteca del Comune di Cortona e dell'Accademia Etrusca, Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca e della Città di Cortona, and Visit Malta.
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