Palazzo Parisio (Valletta)

Palazzo Parisio
Façade of Palazzo Parisio
Alternative names	Casa Parisio
General information
Status	Intact
Type	Palace
Architectural style	Neoclassical and Baroque
Location	Valletta, Malta
Coordinates	35°53′46.7″N 14°30′41.6″E / 35.896306°N 14.511556°E / 35.896306; 14.511556
Current tenants	Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Named for	Paolo Parisio Muscati
Construction started	c. 1740
Completed	1744
Owner	Government of Malta
Technical details
Material	Limestone
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Architect	Peruzzi
Website
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Palazzo Parisio, sometimes known as Casa Parisio, is a palace in Valletta, Malta. It was built in the 1740s by Domenico Sceberras, and eventually passed into the hands of the Muscati and Parisio Muscati families. It was Napoleon's residence for six days in June 1798, during the early days of the French occupation of Malta. The palace was eventually acquired by the de Piro family, and was later purchased by the Government of Malta. It was used as the General Post Office from 1886 to 1973, and it now houses the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Palazzo Parisio is on Merchants Street, originally called Strada San Giacomo, one of the main streets in Valletta. The palace is adjacent to Auberge de Castille, which is now the office of the Prime Minister. It faces Auberge d'Italie, now the Ministry of Tourism.

The site of Palazzo Parisio originally contained two town houses, which belonged to Fra Michel Fonterme dit la Chiesa and Francesco This. The houses were purchased by Fra Giovanni di Ventimiglia, the Balì of Manosca, in 1608. His descendants exchanged the houses with Maria Sceberras in 1717.

In about 1740, Domenico Sceberras demolished the town houses and began to build the palace. It was completed in 1744 by Margherita Muscati, his sister, and remained in the hands of the Muscati family. Eventually, it was inherited by Anna Muscati, who married Domenico Parisio. By the late 18th century, the palace belonged to Paolo Parisio Muscati, who named the building Palazzo Parisio.

After the French invasion of Malta, Napoleon stayed at Palazzo Parisio for six days from 12 to 18 June 1798, before embarking on the Egyptian campaign. Following the Maltese uprising against French rule, Parisio Muscati left Valletta to join the Maltese insurgents, where he commanded the Naxxar battalion.