At the request of the British Royal Navy to the Governor, in 1830, Villa Bighi and the surrounding land were given for a project to build the Bighi Hospital. The project cost £20,000 and began operating in 1832.

With 200 beds, this hospital served 800 sailors every year. Whenever the British Empire was involved in a war, this hospital served its duty well. It is no wonder that Malta was known as ‘the Nurse of the Mediterranean’.