This handsomely produced, beautifully illustrated and lucidly written guide to Palazzo Falson, which was opened on May 4 2007, is an essential companion for the visitor to the palazzo and a very useful basic reference work for those planning a visit or desiring to revive their memories of a visit.

A brief history of the palazzo since its origins in 13th century Mdina is followed by that of the Gollcher family since the 19th century with much more information about Captain Olof Frederick Gollcher OBE, who became full owner of Palazzo Falson by 1938 and housed in it his many collections of art works, armour, silver, books, carpets, furniture and several others. 2001 reached an agreement with the Gollcher Foundation, which was set up after Captain Gollcher’s death, to manage the palazzo, an arduous task involving, just to start with, the conservation of the building itself and of the various collections in it.

Each of the palazzo’s several areas is described succinctly but always clearly, the highlights of each room or area being emphasized not just in the text (by Michelle Galea and Francesca Balzan) but also in the illustrations.  Thus the set of four small paintings depicting the seasons, attributed to the great Nicolas Poussin, the haunting Mattia Preti painting showing the Roman Lucretia stabbing herself, or the magnificent Hanau silver statuettes of a king and a queen draw the reader’s, and the viewer’s attention to what are surely remarkable works.

The well-angled photographs of richly furnished and decorated rooms such as the study, the drawing room, the sitting room and the dining room illustrate the environment in which a wealthy family lived in the first half of the 20th century, surrounded by the treasures a perceptive and assiduous collector like Captain Gollcher amassed in his lifetime. As an increasing number of experts focus their attention on the exhibits at Palazzo Falson, the artistic and historical importance of a growing number of exhibits is being revealed. It is thus likely that in the years to come, it is not just the general cultured visitor who will be drawn to the palazzo but also specialists in a number of fields.