Casa Ellul was built when the lavishness of the Baroque and Rococo period was shifting away from the dark and cumbersome, and toward a periods characterised by a sense of lightness. Casa Ellul boutique hotel is located in the centre of the beautiful capital city of Malta, Valletta, which is home to an array of impressive buildings, including the Casa itself. A family-run business through and through, this former family home has been in the family since 1837, and the Ellul brothers continue to place great importance on the notion of family, combined with luxury and familiarity. No detail goes unnoticed from the comfort and grandeur of the suites, to the exquisite paintings and architecture at every turn.
Located on Old Theatre Street, barely six meters wide, Casa Ellul goes largely unnoticed from the street. However, upon entry, the hotel’s opulence is impossible to miss. The central rooms lead onto the hotel courtyard, and feature timber-beam ceilings and diffused natural light. There are three tiers of regimented balconettes and Maltese galleriji, which overlie the street-level Valletta shops and doorways. This cleverly designed building’s architecture provides a bit of a trompe l’oeil, as it is actually several different buildings which are part of a group, but read as a singular palazzo, thanks to a seamless façade.
Romantic Classicism architecture and décor reign supreme, with wrought ironwork, carved mouldings, subtle panelling, floral motifs, and angelic masks. Every detail is ornate and masterful, a Neo-Classical style, with a prevailing Maltese feel. La pièce de Résistance is the breathtaking 360 degree panoramic view that can be enjoyed from the rooftop. In the hotel’s courtyard stands a statue of Heracles, the ancient Greek divine hero, sheltered in a finely executed Ionic shrine. This muscular son of the Zeus is portrayed wearily resting on his wooden club and lion skin which he presented to King Eurystheus.
This Valletta boutique hotel offers its visitors and tourists the chance to stay in an authentic Victorian-period house, with all the amenities of modern times and the chance to unwind, relax, and be inspired. The guesthouses are classic yet stylish, and the rooftop is contemporary and private, providing a unique setting and unforgettable experience in Malta. At night, the city of Valletta settles into a peaceful calm, reflected in the atmosphere at Casa Ellul, where people enjoy the theatre and all the gastronomic delights found far and wide. Valletta is truly unlike any other European capital city.
Valletta manages to keep up with modern times without losing its authenticity, history and personality. Staying at Casa Ellul allows visitors to experience city life without all of the noise. Those wishing to explore need look no further than the local bus station, or to the ferries for an aquatic alternative.
The grid-like pattern of the city of Valletta has most streets crossing each other at right angles, making navigation fairly straightforward. Ideally, visitors should explore Valletta by foot, as they are able to take in all the architectural splendour the city has to offer.
The Casa Ellul has eight guest suites to choose from, each one offering a slightly different and personalized experience. There is the deluxe suite, two twin deluxe suites, a junior suite with lounge and balcony, the Piano Nobile suite, A Duplex Suite with view from terrace, the Duplex Suite with view from terrace and Jacuzzi, and finally the Executive Suite with terrace and Jacuzzi. Guests may enjoy a sumptuous breakfast with extensive options at the hotel, and Casa Ellul is located directly on the main street where visitors have more than their fair choice of restaurant options.
Casa Ellul is located right next to the Manoel Theatre, a performing arts venue in Malta named after Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, Fra António Manoel de Vilhena, who ordered its construction in 1731. Europe’s third-oldest working theatre, the Manoel is home to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The city of Valletta is unique, charming, remarkable in its history and beauty, and officially recognised as a World Heritage Site. When visiting Valletta, Casa Ellul is the perfect place to rest your weary head, where tradition meets modernity, and the guest is King.
Written by Susannah Kiernan
www.casaellul.com