Other Historic Sites
In the Maltese Islands, you will find that history is not confined to the halls of museums and galleries, but it is there to see, touch and experience, practically everywhere. Walking along the streets of Valletta, or exploring other towns and villages across Malta and Gozo, you will encounter a variety of historic sites from different eras, each one adding an individual piece to a historical mosaic that spans the centuries.
AUBERGE D'ITALIE229 Merchants Street, Valletta, VLT 1170, Malta
Originally designed by Girolamo Cassar, the Auberge d’Italie in Merchants Street, Valletta is one of the finest buildings in the city.
It has a symmetrical facade, rectangular in plan and surrounded by streets on three sides. It is built around an arcaded courtyard and was considerably altered in the 17th century. Nowadays this building is used to house the Head Office of the Malta Tourism Authority.
Art exhibitions are regularly held at the Auberge d'Italie. Artists wishing to exhibit their works at the Auberge can apply here.
GRANDMASTERS PALACE
Palace Square Valletta, VLT 1191, Malta
The Palace stands in the very heart of Valletta - the World Heritage City founded by the Sovereign Hospitaller Military Order of St. John after the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Besides being the Office of The President, The Palace also serves as the House of Representatives and boasts of, an armoury which symbolises the past glories of the Order.
The first structure on this site was built during the reign of Grandmaster Jean de La Cassiere (1572-1581) in order to serve as the Grandmaster's Palace. Subsequent Grandmasters enlarged and embellished the original structure until it took its present shape during the mid-18th century. Following the French occupation between 1798 and 1800 The Palace was taken over by the British administration, thereby serving as the Palace of the Governor. It also saw Malta's constitutional development as it was the seat of Malta's first Constitutional Parliament in 1921 and, following Independence in 1964, the seat of Parliament and also of the Head of State.
The Palace State Rooms and Armoury are open to the public. Howvever, the State Rooms may be closed to visitors at short notice due to the exigencies of the Office of the President or the House of Representatives.
AUBERGE DE CASTILLE
Castille Place Valletta, Malta
The Auberge de Castille was the official seat of the knights of the Langue of Castille, León and Portugal – one of the most powerful of the Order of St. John, its Head being the Grand Chancellor. The Knights of this Langue were responsible for the defence of part of the fortifications of Valletta, known as the St Barbara Bastion. The Auberge is situated at the highest point of Valletta and originally looked out on the rolling countryside beyond, giving it a unique vantage-point unsurpassed by any other building in the city. The original Auberge was built by the renowned Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar in 1574. It was extensively re-modelled and virtually rebuilt in 1741, the present plan of the imposing structure attributed to Andrea Belli. The building was damaged during the siege of the French forces (1799–1800) as well as during the Second World War (1939–1945).
TA' BRAXIA CEMETERY
Triq l-Indipendenza, Tal-Pietà, Malta
This cemetery lies close to Portes des Bombes in Floriana, and was opened in 1857 when the group of cemeteries close to the bastions in Floriana were full. The Ta’ Braxia cemetery was designed by Emanuele Luigi Galizia who was only 25 years old at the time. Later he was responsible for the much larger Addolorata Cemetery in Paola. Ta' Braxia is managed by Din l-Art Helwa.