Walking through Casa Rocca Piccola is more than a journey through beautifully furnished rooms and centuries-old collections. It is an opportunity to step into the story of one of Malta’s oldest noble families, whose history has been intertwined with that of the islands for almost five centuries.
The de Piro family has witnessed Malta evolve through the rule of the Knights of St John, the French occupation, British rule and Independence. Each generation has left its own mark, not only on Casa Rocca Piccola but on the country’s political, military, cultural and social history.
A Legacy That Began in the 16th Century
The family’s story begins with Cosimo de Piro, whose family left Rhodes alongside the Knights of St John and settled in Malta during the early sixteenth century. His service to the Order looking after the all important military gunpowder established a tradition of public duty that would continue for generations.
Over the centuries, members of the de Piro family served as military officers, public administrators, government officials and trusted advisers to Grand Masters and British Governors, helping shape important moments in Maltese history while preserving their family’s heritage.
The Barons of Budach
Ennobled by Grand Master Perellos in 1716 and created Barons of Budach the de Piro family rose to prominence in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the title of Baron of Budach was passed from one generation to the next.
First among them was Giovanni Pio de Piro, who represented the Grand Master Perellos as Procurator of Wheat for the Maltese Islands and later also became the first Marquis de Piro. His diplomatic work with the Papal Albani family, his stewardship of the King of Spain’s property in Sicily and his shrewd political influence helped establish the family’s prominence in Malta and abroad.
Other family members continued this tradition of public service, serving as military commanders most notably against the French occupation with the 2nd Baron de Piro, Vincenzo de Piro being one of the few members of the Maltese aristocracy who refused to burn his patent of nobility despite French orders. In the 19th and 20th century members of the de Piro family served with distinction in the British army and occupied important government posts. One family member Giuseppe de Piro, in the early 20th century founded a charity called The Missionary Society of St Paul that organised charitable missions that even today continue to help the poor in Peru, Pakistan and the Philippines.
De Piro Family Today.
While noble titles form part of the family’s story today members of the family work in diverse fields such as Architecture and for Charitable Trusts.
Some family members are respected historians, authors and patrons of the arts, documenting Malta’s heritage and helping preserve it for future generations. The de Piro Archive at Casa Rocca Piccola holds important records dealing with all aspects of aristocratic family life that have been used by scholars and historians all over the world.
These achievements transformed Casa Rocca Piccola from simply being a noble residence into a home filled with personal stories, historical documents and family heirlooms that continue to tell Malta’s story today.
Casa Rocca Piccola Today
Unlike many historic palaces, Casa Rocca Piccola remains a living family home and is still used for family occasions and events.
Today, the house is cared for by Nicholas de Piro, the 9th Baron of Budach and 9th Marquis de Piro. An accomplished author and historian, he has dedicated much of his career to researching and sharing Malta’s history, while continuing his family’s commitment to preserving this remarkable home.
His work ensures that Casa Rocca Piccola remains more than a museum. It is a place where visitors can experience history through the stories of the family.
A Living Legacy
Every portrait hanging on the walls, every handwritten document preserved in the archives and every room within Casa Rocca Piccola represents another chapter in the de Piro family’s remarkable journey.
A visit to the house is not simply an opportunity to admire a historic palace—it is an invitation to discover the lives of the people who shaped it, and whose story continues to unfold today.
Whether you’re fascinated by Maltese history, noble families or beautifully preserved heritage homes, Casa Rocca Piccola offers a uniquely personal glimpse into a legacy that has endured for more than 400 years.
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