Il-gallarija ta’ Malta : the Maltese balcony as a sociocultural marker of identity

Abstract

Il-Gallarija ta’ Malta defines the character of Maltese urban landscape. Besides offering a remarkable visual experience, this balcony provides intangible Malteseness that documents society’s past. A research gap has been identified on the socio-cultural aspects of the gallarija and knowledge is at times limited to misconceptions. This study contributes to a sociocultural dimension of an architectural element in the Maltese historical fabric. Collective memories have an inherent relationship with architectural objects that become social representations of identity. The study delved into the historical, ethnographic and philosophical aspects of the balcony concept, appraising the versatile and generic usages worldwide, to highlight the universality and uniqueness of the Gallarija Ta' Malta. The study employs qualitative and phenomenological methods of enquiry to explore the experiential narratives generated from nine unstructured interviews with residents and academics, thereby connecting humans with the gallarija and providing a voice for its cultural and social emergence. The participants’ rich narratives affirm the gallarija’s unique role in the Maltese historical events and a symbol of adaptability and evolution of Maltese society. Besides its functional virtues the gallarija symbolises the nature of a people and their traditional attributes, highlighting the need for its preservation as an icon of the socio-cultural identity of the Maltese Islands.