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 Gelormo
Cassar was a Maltese architect born around 1520. We
do not know the exact date of his birth nor the year
of his death, however his death must have happened
after the 9th January 1589, because it is known that
he had made a second will, which still exists to
this day at the Notaries Archives.
He died in Valletta the capital city of Malta where
so much of his works still stand to this day. He is
buried in the Church of Porto Salvu.
Gelormo Cassar was described by an Embroil in his
unpublished book Annali storici della Sacra
Religione Gierosolimitana, as a young Maltese of
perfect character. His determination and courage as
a soldier were shown both during the Great Siege of
Malta of 1565 - for which the Grandmaster La
Cassiere is said could not find words enough to
praise him - and during the Veneto-Turkish War of
Cyprus during the years 1570-73.
Cassar’s engineering teachers were the Maltese
Evangelista Menga and the Italian Francesco
Laparelli.
On the 23rd April 1569 when he was in the Langue of
Italy as a servant-at-Arms, Gerolamo Cassar went on
a study tour to Italy. There he acquired a number of
Renaissance and Mannerist techniques. By the end of
that year he succeeded Laparelli as chief military
engineer to the Order in charge of the buildings and
fortifications of Valletta.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the church of the Order of
the Knights of St. John is Cassar’s masterpiece.
This magnificent cathedral was finished in 1578, and
is considered to be one of the greatest treasures of
the island.
Gelormo Cassar made other important buildings in
Valletta like the seven Auberges of the Knights, the
Magisterial Palace and a number of other churches. |
