One of Malta’s most mysterious and abandoned villas could soon see new life, as a development application proposing the restoration and incorporation of Villa Sans Souci into a new elderly home has been submitted to the Planning Authority.

The proposed project would see the historic villa, located on the outskirts of Marsaxlokk, restored and converted into a multi-purpose facility, housing a restaurant, wellness centre, clinics, and administrative offices. The plans, submitted under application number PA/01293/25, also outline the construction of a new, four-storey elderly home next to the villa, featuring 74 rooms. In addition, three underground levels would be excavated to provide space for parking and other ancillary facilities.

The site falls outside the development zone (ODZ), where development is typically restricted. However, planning policies do allow for certain types of facilities, such as elderly care homes, to be developed in ODZ areas, provided the applicant can demonstrate that no suitable sites exist within the development zone.

This is not the first time proposals have surfaced to restore Villa Sans Souci. In 2005, plans were submitted to convert the villa into a five-star hotel, but the application was eventually withdrawn. The current proposal marks the latest attempt to breathe new life into the deteriorating site, which has suffered decades of neglect and vandalism.

A storied past

Villa Sans Souci holds significant historical and architectural value. Built in 1870 by Professor Salvatore Luigi Pisani, Malta’s first Chief Government Medical Officer, the villa was originally a stately residence frequented by Malta’s aristocracy and notable public figures.

Following Prof. Pisani’s death in 1908, the villa changed hands and uses several times, serving at various points as a hotel for British servicemen, an RAF and Navy lodging facility, and some say even as a brothel. Over the years, the villa’s reputation has shifted from prestigious residence to local curiosity, with numerous paranormal stories adding to its allure.

Architecturally, the villa once boasted grand arched windows, Roman-style columns, and elegant balconies, alongside murals, floral motifs, and an extensive rear garden with a stone gazebo overlooking Marsaxlokk. However, decades of neglect, theft, and structural decay have left much of the villa in a perilous state, with entire sections, including its spiral staircase and upper balconies, having collapsed.

The proposed integration of Villa Sans Souci into a modern elderly care facility presents both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, it could secure the villa’s future through careful restoration and adaptive reuse. On the other, it raises questions about the impact of a large-scale development in an ODZ area.