Description

Giovanni Francesco Abela (1582–1655) was a distinguished Maltese historian, nobleman, and member of the Order of St. John, recognized as the father of Maltese historiography. Educated in law at the University of Bologna, he held the prestigious title of Juris Utriusque Doctor and served for 35 years as Vice-Chancellor of the Order. Abela is best known for his groundbreaking work, Della Descrittione di Malta (1647), which offered an extensive and systematic account of Malta’s history, archaeology, language, and folklore. His writings provided one of the earliest and most comprehensive records of the island and remain an essential reference for scholars and historians.

In addition to his literary contributions, Abela was deeply committed to preserving Malta’s ancient heritage. He conducted field visits across Malta and Gozo, documenting archaeological sites and was the first to link the ruins at Tas-Silġ to a temple dedicated to Hercules. He converted his own home in Marsa into a private museum, laying the foundations for what would later become the National Museum of Archaeology. Abela died in 1655 and was buried in St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. His legacy is honored across Malta, including in educational institutions bearing his name, reflecting his enduring influence on the island’s cultural and intellectual identity.