Palaces
Grand Master’s Palace and Armoury
Auberge de Baviere Palace
Towards
the end of the 17th century a large residential palace was built
facing the entrance of Marsamxett Harbour. This was Palazzo Carniero, built to
the design of the Maltese born Carlo Gimach. Eventually the building was used
by the future Grand Master, Marc’Antonio Zondadari. During the second half of
the 18th century, the Anglo-Bavarian Langue was instituted, and this
palace was bought to be used as their auberge. The building is imposing, with
its balanced façade dominated by the open balcony above the main doorway. The
design gave the building a sense of stability. Beneath the building a rock-cut
shelter was excavated, offering shelter to the locals living in the area during
the many air-raids of World War Two. During the 20th century this
building was used as a primary school.
Carniero Palace
Towards the end
of the 17th century, a large residential palace was built on the hill
overlooking the entrance to the Port of Marsamxett. This was the Carniero
Palace, and was built on the design of the Maltese architect Carlo Gimach.
Later, this palace was used by the future Grand Master, the Italian knight Fra
Marc’Antonio Zondadari. In the second half of the 18th century, the
Anglo-Bavarian Language was founded, and this palace was bought to be used as
the Auberge of this Language. The building is large and impressive, with a
balanced façade, and dominated by an open gallery located on the main door. The
design of this palace offers a sense of stability. Under the same building
shelters were dug in the rocks, to offer shelter to the locals who lived here for
during the many airstrikes during World War II. In the 20th century this
building was used as a primary school for children in Valletta.
Auberge d’Aragon
he 19th
century. The Protestant Bishop of Malta and Gibraltar used to reside in this
building. When Malta was given independence in 1964, this became the Office of
the Prime Minister. It remained so until the early 1970s when the office was
moved to the Auberge of Castile. Today it is being used by one of the Ministries.
Il-Berġa ta’ Aragona
L-ewwel bereġ li inbnew fuq id-disinji ta’ Glormu Cassar, il-perit Malti li
kien qed jaħdem għall-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann fil-bini tal-Belt Valletta. Din
il-berġa hija l-unika waħda li tagħtina ideja kif il-bereġ kienu jidhru oriġinarjament:
binja b’sular wieħed, kantunieri id-dekorati, u xejn aktar dekorazzjonijiet.
Il-berġa għandha portiku li ġie miżjud fis-seklu 19. L-isqof Protestant ta’
Malta u Ġibiltà kien għamel żmien joqgħod f’din il-binja. Hekk kif Malta
ingħatat l-Indipendenza fl-1964, din il-berġa saret l-Uffiċju tal-Prim
Ministru. Baqgħet tintuża hekk sal-bidu tas-sebgħinijiet, meta l-uffiċju
tal-Prim Ministru mexa lejn il-Berġa ta’ Kastilja. Illum, il-Berġa ta’ Aragona
tintuża bħala uffiċju ministerjal
ly
One
of the largest surviving auberges built by the Knights is that of Italy. The
original building was designed by Gerolamo Cassar, and the building had
additions made to it in the second half of the 17th century. It was
during the time of Grand Master Gregorio Carafa that the ornate façade was
added. The imposing and well-balanced façade is crowned with impressive marble
work, showing the bust of the Grand Master surrounded by a trophy of arms. It
is believed that the marble used for this decoration was brought from Mtarfa,
from the ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to Prosperina. The present façade
was built to the designs of Mederico Blondel, the French resident architect of
the Order. Presently the building houses MUZA, the Malta National Community Art
Museum.
The Auberge of Italy
The original building was built to the design of Glormu
Cassar, and in the 17th century the building had several additions to it. It
was at the time of Grand Master Gregorio Carafa that the decorative façade was
added. The large, balanced façade is decorated with marble ornaments, depicting
the bust of Grand Master Carafa, surrounded by many carvings of arms and flags,
known as the trophy of arms. It is understood that the marble used for the
decoration on the façade is derived from the remains of a Roman temple in
Mtarfa, dedicated to Proserpine. The present façade was built on the design of
the architect Mederico Blondel, a French resident architect, of the Order of
St. John. The building is currently in use by MUSEUM, the National Museum of
Community Art.
Auberge of Provence
The
Langue of Provence built their first auberge around 1571. The architect was
Gerolamo Cassar. It was a one-storey building, and probably was even smaller
than at present. Eventually, during the 17th century, the Langue
commissioned the French architect Mederico Blondel to design the present façade.
The building was also enlarged, and the presumed small square in front of the
building was built over. The façade is monumental, and it is very balanced. The
corners are typical of Cassar’s style, which Blondel retained. In between the
ground floor and the upper floor, a mezzanine level was inserted. The ground
floor was planned to have shops. This building is considered as one of the
finest Mannerist buildings that we have in Malta. During the 19th
century the building was used as a guest house and as a social club. It was
taken over by the then Museum Department, and nowadays it is the National
Museum of Archaeology.
Museums
National Museum of Achaeology
Nation Museum of Fine Arts
The Palace Armoury
War Museum
Casa Rocca Piccola
Toy Museum
Tourists Attractions
Manoel Theatre
MITP Theatre
Mediterranean Conference Centre
Fort St. Elmo
The Siege Bell Memorial
National Library
Fortifications
St. James Cavalier