This abandoned building, which is the second-largest structure on the Maltese island of Comino, has a complicated past.
Comino may be the third-largest island in the Maltese Archipelago, but, throughout its history, it has been relatively sparsely populated compared to the neighboring islands of Malta and Gozo. Many tourists travel to the island every day, but most only visit the shores of the Blue Lagoon. Few people travel to the island’s interior, which features quite a few old and abandoned buildings. The second largest building on the island is the Isolation Hospital, which is currently in a nearly abandoned state and has a rather complicated past.
Part of the building, which was originally called il-Palazz (the Palace), was built in the early 17th century as a military barracks near Santa Marija Tower, one of six such fortresses built on the islands at that time. Both were constructed by the orders of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, the leader of the Knights of St. John and ruler of the of the Maltese Islands.
In the later half of the 19th century, when Malta was a British colony, the government decided to build an extension to il-Palazz and convert it into an isolation hospital. Soldiers arriving in Malta with cholera and plague were brought to the hospital to protect the rest of the Maltese population. During World War I, the hospital was also used to treat casualties from the Dardanelles naval campaign.
In the mid-20th century, the building functioned as a school for the children of the island’s residents, who were mostly farmers at the time. The school closed in the 1960s after the student population (and the island’s population) dwindled. Part of the building was used as a shop, but it eventually closed.
Since the school shuttered, people have continued to live inside portions of the structure, but the rest of the building has been slowly decaying. Even so, the Isolation Hospital is now widely touted as one of Comino’s notable landmarks, even though few people ever trek inland to see it.
Know Before You Go
The island of Comino, where the Isolation Hospital is located, is only reachable by boat or ferry services from the islands of Malta or Gozo. On Malta, tour boats and ferries depart daily from several locations, including Cirkewwa, St. Paul’s Bay, and Sliema. On Gozo, the ferries travel several times a day from the port at Mgarr.
Most ferry and tour boat services will dock at the Blue Lagoon on the west side of the island. The walk from this area to the Isolation Hospital is about 20-30 minutes along dirt roads or paths. No automobile transport services are available on the island.
Part of the Isolation Hospital is still used as people’s personal residence, and a few signs have been posted around the building indicating this. Additionally, access to the courtyard is not permitted. However, it is still possible to view most of the building, including the courtyard, from outside.
