Originally built by the Order of St John as a gunpowder store in circa 1665, by the 1700's the site became Malta's first home for the elderly. Then, under British rule, the site also served as as a female prison, as well as a refuge for illegitimate and stray girls. It remained a state multipurpose institution till 1892.



The Ospizio was originally well decorated, with a fountain and an accompanying artistic statue (which at some point simply disappeared overnight) embellishing the far wall of the Ospizio's open space.



One of the more famous prisoners held at the Ospizio was Margaret Semini, the Maltese wife of Englishman George Dalzel, who was imprisoned for adultery in 1840. Historian Giovanni Bonello writes that "We do not know how long Dalzel paid for his wife to remain in prison. If his was a vindictive disregard of money, he could have left her there for her whole lifetime." Malta eventually decriminalised adultery in 1972.

Crazy Town's 'Butterfly' was an early 2000s anthem, and in 2001 reached the number one spot in the US singles chart, and number three in the UK singles chart. The American rap rock band was founded in Los Angeles in 1995.



With regret we note the recent passing of Crazy Town's lead frontman, Seth Brooks Binzer, better known by his stage name Shifty Shellshock, who departed this Monday, 24 June 2024, at the rather young age of 49 years. The cause of death was not revealed, but it is known that he has struggled with drug addiction throughout his life. May he rest in peace.