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Opening of a stop with an image of Villa Magistrale in Sofia

Opening of a stop with an image of Villa Magistrale in Sofia
05/11/2022

The Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Ursula Hofter Dzuccoli, inaugurated the stop with the image of Villa Magistrale from the Aventine Hill in Rome, part of the small territory of the Order of Malta in the Eternal City. The image and the stop are located in front of the National Library of St. Cyril and Methodius” in Sofia, next to the embassy, which is located on Blvd. Vasil Levski № 92. Petya Ilieva, the author of the project, representatives of the Oborishte district and journalists attended the ceremony. The initiative is part of Petya Ilieva’s Art4Diplomacy project and 11 embassies from Sofia participate in it, among which is the mission of the Order of Malta. “It is a great honour to have the flag and symbols of the Order of Malta in the heart of Sofia, at this stop right in front of the National Library- Ambassador Hofter Dzukoli said – “I hope that more and more people will learn about the past and the millenary history of the Order of Malta and that we will be less and less confused with the Republic of Malta.”
Along with the Master’s Palace, Villa Magistrale is part of the institutional organs of the Order of Malta, it dates back to the 14th century. It is where the General Assembly of the members of the government and the election of the Grand Master takes place. Very famous is also the church of Saint Mary on the Aventine Hill, which was painted by the famous artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi. On this site is also the world-famous keyhole, through which the Dome of St. Peter can be seen. For tourists Villa Magistrale is open by appointment on Friday mornings, excluding the months of July and August.