Sight guide · Valletta · Malta
Visiting Casa Rocca Piccola
A 16th-century palazzo on Republic Street that is still the home of a Maltese noble family, shown on guided tours through period rooms, a chapel and family collections.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Continentaleurope, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Casa Rocca Piccola is a palace in Lower Valletta, Valletta. Allow 1 hour; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Palace
- Area
- Lower Valletta
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, rainy day and off the beaten path
- Best months
- November–January
About Casa Rocca Piccola
A 16th-century palazzo on Republic Street that is still the home of a Maltese noble family, shown on guided tours through period rooms, a chapel and family collections. Below the house, rock-cut WWII air-raid shelters show how residents sheltered during the bombing.
Tip: Take the guided tour rather than wandering alone; the family stories are the highlight.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Lower Valletta, quieter residential streets, Strait Street bars and Fort St Elmo.
Best time to visit Casa Rocca Piccola
Casa Rocca Piccola is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- January: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds.
- December: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- November: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Valletta has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Valletta itinerary visits Casa Rocca Piccola on day 2, together with Fort St Elmo and National War Museum, Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell and Strait Street.
- No. 9 of the 16 sights in our Valletta things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- One of the picks in valletta on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Valletta.
Near Casa Rocca Piccola
Also in Lower Valletta, so you can walk between them:
- Manoel Theatre — 45 minutes, low cost
- Strait Street — 1–2 hours, free
- Lower Barrakka Gardens and Siege Bell — 30 minutes, free
If you like Casa Rocca Piccola
- St John's Co-Cathedral — Upper Valletta, 1.5 hours
- Grandmaster's Palace — Upper Valletta, 1–1.5 hours
- Lascaris War Rooms — Upper Valletta, 1–1.5 hours
- National Museum of Archaeology — Upper Valletta, 1 hour
Staying near Casa Rocca Piccola
Stay in Lower Valletta ($$$) to walk here: quieter residential streets, Strait Street bars and Fort St Elmo. All areas to stay in Valletta.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Casa Rocca Piccola?
Plan 1 hour. With Manoel Theatre nearby, it fits a half-day in Lower Valletta.
+Is Casa Rocca Piccola free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Casa Rocca Piccola?
November–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Take the guided tour rather than wandering alone; the family stories are the highlight.
+Do I need to book Casa Rocca Piccola in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.