20 January 2022
The legacy of Baroness Muffy Scicluna Ramsay
Last month Mrs Muffy Scicluna Ramsay, owner of Palazzo Parisio, suddenly passed away. Mrs Muffy had strongly wanted her garden to become part of the Grandi Giardini Italiani network, even though it was in Naxxar, Malta.
This interview with her daughter, Justine Pergola, reveals the deep bond that Mrs Muffy had with Italy and how proud she was of her Mediterranean garden built on an island in the middle of the sea. A garden that was born thanks also to the support of Umberto Pergola, a well-known scenographer and dancer, her husband and Justine's father, who, as she used to remember, gave her the strength and courage to return to Malta and bring back to life Palazzo Parisio.
We will miss Muffy very much. The helm now passes completely into the hands of his beloved daughter Justine, who until now has supported her mother in the management of the Palace and the garden and to whom I offer my best wishes for the future of Palazzo Parisio.
With love,
Judith Wade
Where was your mother born and grow up?
Mummy was born in London and educated firstly at primary school in Paris, secondary school in Hampshire, England and finishing school in Florence in Italy.
Who was in charge of the palace before your mother?
The Palazzo has been in the family since 1898 but only opened to visitors when mum opened its doors in 1996, where she started by opening for visitors and offered a small selection of cakes and other food which she personally made herself.
What are the links between your family, England and Italy?
My maternal grandfather was a british naval officer, my maternal grandmother was Maltese and my Father was fully Italian, a perfect melting pot!
When did the management of Palazzo Parisio pass into your mother's hands? What was the condition of the property?
She really was passed on the responsibility back in 1996 when she decided to open the palace doors. Conditions were not as you see them today, especially the gardens, its been an ongoing labour of love to preserve both the palazzo and its gardens as you see them today thanks to continuous restoration and rennovation.
In your opinion, what was the greatest burden for your mother in managing such an important cultural asset?
A quote that best describes this by Goethe is «Make the future better by making the most out of the past» I think that her main concern was that none of the governement enteties or cultural heritage organisations never gave any sort of financial support to help maintain such a cultural heritage unique on the island. She really gave her heart and soul to the place and would have done anything to keep it alive.
Your mother loved taking care of the garden, what was her favourite plant?
Mum absolutely loved the garden, it was her happy place. She knew all the names of every single plant, tree, shrub and flower. Passionate about citrus, her magnificent variety of bougainvillea and her beloved roses.
Now that the reins of the company have passed to you, what are your mother's most important teachings that will sustain you?
«Crederci sempre, arrendersi mai!». She taught me how with passion and drive you can achieve great things!
What are the positives and negatives of having a cultural property in Malta?
It is a drain on personal finances, no help from any governmental or cultural heritage enteties. Opening the house to visitors and events means that there is a lot of wear and tear to the building and ts interiors, it is a continous battle to maintain - There is also a lot of responsibility when you own a historic venue that has such a good reputation and also continue to uphold the family name, values and tradition. On a positive note, Im proud to be the current generation delivering on the achievements of my ancestors and I'm able to do this thanks to the beautiful backdrop that is Palazzo Parisio and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do my part in contributing to the continuation of Maltese heritage and history.
This interview with her daughter, Justine Pergola, reveals the deep bond that Mrs Muffy had with Italy and how proud she was of her Mediterranean garden built on an island in the middle of the sea. A garden that was born thanks also to the support of Umberto Pergola, a well-known scenographer and dancer, her husband and Justine's father, who, as she used to remember, gave her the strength and courage to return to Malta and bring back to life Palazzo Parisio.
We will miss Muffy very much. The helm now passes completely into the hands of his beloved daughter Justine, who until now has supported her mother in the management of the Palace and the garden and to whom I offer my best wishes for the future of Palazzo Parisio.
With love,
Judith Wade
Where was your mother born and grow up?
Mummy was born in London and educated firstly at primary school in Paris, secondary school in Hampshire, England and finishing school in Florence in Italy.
Who was in charge of the palace before your mother?
The Palazzo has been in the family since 1898 but only opened to visitors when mum opened its doors in 1996, where she started by opening for visitors and offered a small selection of cakes and other food which she personally made herself.
What are the links between your family, England and Italy?
My maternal grandfather was a british naval officer, my maternal grandmother was Maltese and my Father was fully Italian, a perfect melting pot!
When did the management of Palazzo Parisio pass into your mother's hands? What was the condition of the property?
She really was passed on the responsibility back in 1996 when she decided to open the palace doors. Conditions were not as you see them today, especially the gardens, its been an ongoing labour of love to preserve both the palazzo and its gardens as you see them today thanks to continuous restoration and rennovation.
In your opinion, what was the greatest burden for your mother in managing such an important cultural asset?
A quote that best describes this by Goethe is «Make the future better by making the most out of the past» I think that her main concern was that none of the governement enteties or cultural heritage organisations never gave any sort of financial support to help maintain such a cultural heritage unique on the island. She really gave her heart and soul to the place and would have done anything to keep it alive.
Your mother loved taking care of the garden, what was her favourite plant?
Mum absolutely loved the garden, it was her happy place. She knew all the names of every single plant, tree, shrub and flower. Passionate about citrus, her magnificent variety of bougainvillea and her beloved roses.
Now that the reins of the company have passed to you, what are your mother's most important teachings that will sustain you?
«Crederci sempre, arrendersi mai!». She taught me how with passion and drive you can achieve great things!
What are the positives and negatives of having a cultural property in Malta?
It is a drain on personal finances, no help from any governmental or cultural heritage enteties. Opening the house to visitors and events means that there is a lot of wear and tear to the building and ts interiors, it is a continous battle to maintain - There is also a lot of responsibility when you own a historic venue that has such a good reputation and also continue to uphold the family name, values and tradition. On a positive note, Im proud to be the current generation delivering on the achievements of my ancestors and I'm able to do this thanks to the beautiful backdrop that is Palazzo Parisio and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do my part in contributing to the continuation of Maltese heritage and history.
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Make the future better by making the most out of the past.- Johann Wolfgang Goethe - |
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