Banca Giuratale (Valletta)

Banca Giuratale
Banka Ġuratali
View of the Banca Giuratale
Former names	Palazzo della Città Consolato del Mare
Alternative names	Municipal Palace
General information
Status	Intact
Type	City hall
Architectural style	Baroque
Location	Valletta, Malta
Coordinates	35°53′52″N 14°30′49.1″E / 35.89778°N 14.513639°E / 35.89778; 14.513639
Current tenants	Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business
Completed	1721
Owner	Government of Malta
Technical details
Material	Limestone
Floor count	2
Design and construction
Architect	Romano Carapecchia

The Banca Giuratale (Maltese: Banka Ġuratali), formerly also known as Banca dei Giurati, the Municipal Palace (Maltese: Palazz Muniċipali), the Palazzo della Città,Casa Città and the Consolato del Mare, is a public building in Valletta, Malta. It was built in the 18th century to house the city's administrative council, and it was subsequently used as the General Post Office and the Public Registry. The Banca Giuratale now houses the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business.

The Banca Giuratale was originally a house which belonged to Dr. Gio Batta Piotto, and it was taken over by the treasury of the Order of St. John in 1665. In 1721, the Università, which was the local administrative council of Valletta, acquired the building in exchange for its original premises located across the street (now the Monte di Pietà). The building was subsequently reconstructed during the magistracy of Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari. The new building was designed by the architect Romano Carapecchia.

The Banca Giuratale was renovated in 1762, during the magistracy of Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. Napoleon is said to have spent his last night in Malta, between 13 and 14 June 1798, at this building. The Banca Giuratale remained in use by the Università until that body was suppressed by Governor Thomas Maitland in 1818.

In 1841, the Banca Giuratale became a post office when the Packet Office was transferred there from the Casa del Commun Tesoro in Piazza Tesoreria. The Island Post Office was also transferred into the Banca Giuratale on 1 April 1849, and the two were merged into the General Post Office in 1885. A year later, the GPO moved to Palazzo Parisio.