Carlo Gimach facts for kids

Carlo Gimach (born March 2, 1651 – died December 31, 1730) was a talented Maltese architect, engineer, and poet. He was active in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Carlo worked in Malta, Portugal, and Rome during his career. He is famous for designing important buildings like Palazzo Carneiro in Valletta, which is now called Auberge de Bavière. He also helped renovate the Monastery of Arouca in Portugal and restore the Basilica of St. Anastasia in Rome. Carlo Gimach wrote many poems and other literary works. Sadly, most of these writings are now lost. Only one musical piece, a cantata he wrote in 1714, still exists today.

Carlo Gimach's Early Life and Education

Carlo Gimach was born in 1651. His father was Gio Paolo Gimach, a merchant. Gio Paolo's father was from Palestine and had been raised by Giovanni Paolo Lascaris. Carlo's mother was Paolina Sartre. She was the daughter of a French immigrant and a Maltese noblewoman. Carlo was the third of six children in his family. His Palestinian ancestor had a difficult start but found freedom and a normal life for his family.

A view of Palazzo Carneiro in Valletta. Carlo Gimach designed this building in 1696.

In the 1670s, Carlo Gimach studied at the Roman College. After his studies, he returned to his hometown, Valletta, in Malta. There, he became well-known for his skills in architecture and literature. He designed two large palaces in Valletta. These were Palazzo Correa in 1689 and Palazzo Carneiro in 1696. Sadly, Palazzo Correa was destroyed in 1942 during a war. However, Palazzo Carneiro is still standing. It is now known as Auberge de Bavière. Gimach also designed a small shipyard in an area of Valletta called il-Fossa.

Working in Portugal and Rome

In 1696, Carlo Gimach traveled to Portugal. He designed a strong, fortified palace there for his friend, Fra Antonio Correia de Sousa Montenegro. This palace was in the Beira Province. Unfortunately, his friend passed away, and the palace was never finished. By the end of the 1700s, it was in ruins.

After this, Gimach worked for important families in Portugal. He worked for the House of Arronches and later for the Counts of St. John. He worked in Lisbon and near the border with Spain. Around 1706, he helped rebuild several old forts near the border that had been left empty.

Royal Projects and Recognition

In 1707, Gimach was introduced to King John V of Portugal. This happened through the Marquess of Fontes, Rodrigo Anes de Sá Almeida e Meneses, whom Gimach was working with. A year later, in 1708, Gimach designed a beautiful triumphal arch. This arch was placed in front of the Lisbon Cathedral. The British asked him to build it to celebrate the marriage of King John V and Maria Anna of Austria.

Gimach then became involved in many of King John V's building projects across Portugal. He helped renovate the Monastery of St. Mary [pt] in Salzedas. He also renovated the Monastery of the Cistercians in Arouca. This monastery in Arouca is his most famous work in Portugal.

Carlo Gimach is buried in the Basilica of St Anastasia. He had restored this church between 1721 and 1722.

In 1712, the Marquis of Fontes was sent to Rome to be the Portuguese ambassador. Gimach went with him as his art advisor. He lived in rooms inside Palazzo Spada. In 1718, Carlo Gimach was honored for his work. He became a knight of the Order of Christ. This was a special award for his services to the Portuguese royal family.

In 1721, a man named Nuno da Cunha e Ataíde asked Gimach to restore the Basilica of St Anastasia in Rome. Gimach even paid for the building of the Chapel of Saint George and Saint Publius inside the basilica himself. Carlo Gimach passed away on December 31, 1730, in Rome. He was buried in this very chapel.

Sometimes, people mistakenly think Carlo Gimach was also a painter. However, this is because he is confused with another person named Carlo Zimech, who was a priest and painter from Żebbuġ.

Carlo Gimach's Literary Works

Carlo Gimach was known for his great talent in Latin and Italian literature. Count Giovanni Antonio Ciantar [fr], a friend of Gimach, wrote about him in a 1772 book called Malta Illustrata. He said:

"he wrote various poems, mostly in Italian, some of which he used to read to us; his style is limpid; it is sometimes satirical, but always harmless"

Today, most of Gimach's literary writings are believed to be lost. The only one that remains is a cantata called Applauso Genetliaco. He wrote this in 1714. Only two copies of this work are known to exist today.

Notable Works Designed by Gimach

Here are some of the buildings Carlo Gimach designed or helped to remodel:

• Palazzo Correa, Valletta, Malta (1689)
• Renovation of Palazzo Tabria and improvements to the surrounding estate, Ħal Far, Malta (1691–92)
• Palazzo Carneiro, Valletta, Malta (1696)
• Shipyard at Il-Fossa, Valletta, Malta (around 1696)
• Palace of Fra Antonio Correia de Sousa Montenegro, Beira Province, Portugal (1696) – this building was never completed
• Completion and renovation of the Bishop's Palace and the Convent of Santa Catarina da Ribeira, Lisbon, Portugal
• Reconstruction of fortifications on the Portugal–Spain border (around 1706)
• Triumphal arch in front of the Lisbon Cathedral (1708)
• Renovation of the Monastery of St. Mary [pt], Salzedas, Portugal
• Renovation of the Monastery of Arouca, Arouca, Portugal
• Restoration of the Basilica of St Anastasia, Rome (1721–22)
• Renovation of Palazzo Malta, Rome (1720s)