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5 unusual facts about Giovanni Francesco Abela


Giovanni Francesco Abela

Abela was born in Valletta to Marco Abela and Benarda Vella whose great great grandfather was Barone di Pietra Lunga and whose ancestors ruled Malta on more than one occasion and were part of the royal family of Spain.

In the early 17th century Abela converted his house at Marsa to a historical museum, the first on Malta.

He is buried in the Chapel of Our Lady of Filermos (today the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament) in the Co-Cathedral of St. John in Valletta.

He appears to have been the first to note that the ancient temple of Hercules was to be identified with the remains on the hill at Tas-Silg rather than those of Borg in-Nadur.

Marsa, Malta

This was created when Giovanni Francesco Abela converted his house into a museum and was the first of its type on Malta.



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