Carmel Spiteri

Carmel Spiteri is a Maltese architectural historian and researcher. He obtained a certificate and a diploma from the International Institute for Baroque Studies at the University of Malta. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in History of Art and was recently awarded a Master’s degree in the same discipline from the University of Malta. The author is an interior designer by profession and is passionate about Malta’s cultural heritage.

He is best known for his studies on historic Maltese architecture, particularly buildings from the Knights of St John period and the early modern era. He is especially recognised for his book Country Villas in XVIII Century Malta. The book is a well-researched study of Maltese architectural history, focusing on the development of country villas built in the 18th century during the time of the Knights of St John. It examines how the Maltese elite began building elegant suburban estates outside the fortified cities. He pays particular attention to notable estates in areas such as Attard, Lija, and Balzan, which are known for their historic villas and gardens. His work focuses on how these country estates reflected changes in Maltese society. Spiteri’s work concentrates in particular on three major estates: Villa Preziosi, Villa Bologna, and Villa Gourgion. Through architectural analysis, historical context, and visual documentation, the book explains how these villas reflected the wealth, lifestyle, and cultural influences of the Maltese upper classes in the 18th century. The publication is also notable for combining architectural drawings and historical documentation and visual material such as plans and photographs. They all help to reconstruct how these estates were designed, built, and used. It is considered an important contribution to the study of Maltese Baroque and early modern domestic architecture. This makes his work useful not only for historians but also for architects, restorers, and anyone interested in Malta’s built heritage.

Carmel Spiteri is regarded as a specialist in Maltese architectural heritage, contributing to the preservation and understanding of Malta’s 18th-century rural and aristocratic architecture through detailed academic and historical research. Spiteri’s research highlights not only the buildings themselves, but also the social and historical background behind them, including patronage, construction techniques, and the economic conditions of the time. It is regarded as a key reference work for understanding Malta’s 18th-century architectural heritage and the lifestyle of its historical elite.