The property was built during the Order of St. John by Count Ignatius Francesco Moscati Falsoni Navarra as a family home and country residence in 1670.[11][12] The palace was bought in 1760 by Pietro Paolo Falzon d'Aurelle (English: Dorell) Falzon,[13][1] and is interchangeably named for him and his daughter Marchesa[14] Lady Elisabetta Testaferrata Dorell.[15][16]
The interior of the building has some of the ceiling covered in frescoes which were painted by Antonio Grech (1758-1819), known as "Naici" (Antonaci).[17]
It was the last building used by the British, with the consent of the owners, before having to leave Malta in 1979 on Freedom Day.[18]
Since the 19th century the place became limitedly open to the public with special permission of the owners, starting from the Patron Lorenzo Galea.[19]
The Xlejli Tower and a chapel are located inside the walled private gardens of the property.[20][3] At the garden one can still find a small cemetery where British armymen who died during the French occupation of Malta are buried.[21] The garden is considerably very large compared to other general houses. It has a French style.[22][23]
^Also known asVilla Bettina,[2]Villa Dorell[5] (Villa d'Aurel[6]), Xlejli Palace[7] and among the nearby community as simply 'The Palace' (Il-Palazz),[8]
^ abcd"Palazzo Dorell"(PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original(PDF) on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
^"Chapter123". 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^“The Palazzo itself is a simple symmetrical building, rather French in feeling, with an open forecourt and low side wings, both unusual features in a Maltese country house. It was built about 1660 and extended and decorated later.....”.
^"Country Life". Country Life, Limited. 30 September 1979 – via Google Books.
^"L'Abbiti"(PDF). Melitensiawth.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
