Villa Portelli is a historic place with more than just naval and historical significance. Its use up until very recently means that there are people alive who have interacted with the Villa in some way or another. The heritage associated with the villa does not pertain to the building alone, but there is intangible cultural heritage associated with it as well. Villa Portelli is a repository of the living memory of those who were linked to it. 

This historic site reflects the lives and stories of people who worked here or visited over the years. These memories, traditions, and daily practices are vital to the villa’s history. Oral histories of people embody the intangible heritage that connects the past of the Villa with the present. It is vital that these memories are collected, and Heritage Malta is striving to document these living memories. 

The memories collected so far paint a vivid picture of life at and around the Villa. They highlight the rich cultural exchanges that often occurred between the British stationed at the Villa, and the locals living in the area. The memories tell of bustling activity in the area: children delivering newspapers, workers maintaining the gardens, and Maltese staff organising grand dinners for international dignitaries. 

Those who grew up in the area recall playing near the villa, collecting oranges from its gardens, and using the steps leading to the seaport or the bridge to the Villa’s private tennis court – both are features of the Villa that only exist in memory today. 

These recollections also reveal a deeper narrative of cultural exchange and adaptation. Workers, often Maltese, served alongside British officers, sharing skills and forming bonds, while navigating the complexities of colonial power dynamics. The villa symbolised both opportunities and challenges, embodying the transitions Malta underwent post-independence. 

Today, Villa Portelli stands as a testament to the resilience of these human narratives, inviting visitors to explore and honour the collective memories of those who shaped its legacy.