Information
Landmark: Auberge d'ItalieCity: Valletta
Country: Malta
Continent: Europe
Auberge d'Italie, Valletta, Malta, Europe
Overview
The Auberge d'Italie, set in the heart of Valletta, Malta, stands as a treasured piece of history, valued for its striking architecture and deep cultural roots, its limestone walls still warm in the late afternoon sun.Like the other auberges in Valletta, it was first built to house knights of the Order of St. John who all spoke the same tongue, their voices echoing off the stone halls.Here, knights from the Italian region made their home, which is why it was called the Auberge d’Italie.Built in 1574, the Auberge d’Italie-like the other auberges in Valletta-served as a residence for the Knights of the Order of St. John, its limestone walls still carrying the echo of their footsteps.The Italian knights, called the Langue of Italy, belonged to one of seven language groups in the Order, each tied to its own corner of Europe-like banners fluttering from different homelands.The Auberge was both their home and the spot where they gathered for meetings and held ceremonies, its stone walls echoing with voices late into the evening.The building served as more than just the knights’ home-it was where they met in a vaulted hall to plan, debate, and run their affairs.In Malta, the Italian knights were crucial, especially when they helped defend the island during the Great Siege of 1565, and their Auberge bustled with the clatter of boots and the murmur of strategy.After the Knights of St. John left in 1798, the Auberge d'Italie changed hands and purpose more than once, its walls quietly mirroring Malta’s shifting tides of power.The British colonial government once used it, and years later it became part of Malta’s public heritage, standing weathered in the island’s sun.The building still stands, carefully preserved, and now houses part of the National Museum of Archaeology.Baroque Design: Like several other Auberges in Valletta, the Auberge d'Italie showcases Baroque style, with grand symmetrical facades, tall arched windows that catch the afternoon light, and stonework carved in elaborate detail.The building’s design blends power with grace, fitting for the military knights who once called it home, its stone walls cool to the touch even in summer.Facade and Entrance: The Auberge greets visitors with an ornate stone front, its sculpted cornices and tall columns echoing the flourish of Baroque design.A towering arch frames the entrance, pulling you straight into the building’s main hall.Inside, the building was laid out to house the knights’ living quarters along with spaces for their work and gatherings-a long hall with worn stone floors where business and banquets both took place.Most of the original furniture and decor are gone, but the building still holds its grandeur, especially in the main hall where the staircase curves like a ribbon of polished wood.Today, the Auberge d'Italie is home to Malta’s National Museum of Archaeology, where visitors can stand inches from carved Neolithic figures and other priceless relics.The museum highlights Malta’s prehistoric and ancient past, especially the Temple period, the Phoenician age, and the Roman era, with artifacts like weathered stone carvings and other finds that trace the island’s long, varied history.On display, the museum showcases prehistoric statues-among them the famed Sleeping Lady from the dim chambers of the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum-alongside clay pottery, worn stone tools, and other relics from Malta’s earliest civilizations.The Auberge sets the stage for these displays, blending Malta’s rich history with the warm glow of its limestone architecture.Back in the days of the Knights of St. John, the Auberge d'Italie buzzed with Italian knights planning, debating, and sharing meals beneath its stone arches.They helped rule the island and stood on its walls to defend Malta, especially during the Great Siege, when cannon smoke hung in the air.After the Knights left, the French and later the British put the Auberge to all sorts of uses-offices, storerooms, even a meeting hall-until, after Malta won its independence, it finally opened its doors as a museum.This shift mirrors Malta’s journey from the days of armored knights and stone bastions to the lively, independent republic it is today.Today, visitors stepping into the National Museum of Archaeology, set inside the stately Auberge d'Italie, can wander through Malta’s ancient past, from weathered stone tools to intricate Phoenician jewelry.The museum uncovers the island’s prehistoric roots in vivid detail, from the first settlers to the limestone temples that rise against the sea.While touring the museum, visitors can take in its sweeping Baroque curves, notice worn stone steps from centuries past, and imagine its shift from a noble knight’s residence to the public treasure it is today.The museum showcases archaeological artifacts and invites you to see the Auberge d'Italie within its full historical and cultural setting, where worn stone arches still whisper of centuries past.It’s a vivid reminder of the island’s medieval and colonial past, set against the deeper echoes of its prehistoric roots-like weathered stone walls watching over the shore.Just a short stroll from the Auberge, St. John’s Co-Cathedral stands as one of Malta’s best-known landmarks, its Baroque halls glowing with gilded stone and home to masterpieces by Caravaggio.The Upper Barracca Gardens sit just a short walk away, offering sweeping views of Grand Harbour where sunlight glints off the water, and providing a quiet place to unwind after exploring the Auberge.The Palace of the Grand Master, just a short walk away, once sheltered the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John and now echoes with the debates of Malta’s parliament.Victoria Gate sits just a short walk from the Auberge, opening the way into Valletta from Floriana through its weathered stone arch.Why visit Auberge d'Italie?This striking building once housed the knights, later served as a government office, and today welcomes visitors as a museum filled with artifacts that tell Malta’s centuries-old story.The building’s sweeping curves and ornate stonework make it a striking example of Baroque design, and anyone who loves architecture shouldn’t miss it.The design captures the knights’ grandeur and strength, like the glint of steel in a torchlit hall where they once walked.Housed in the grand Auberge d'Italie, the National Museum of Archaeology invites you to step inside and explore Malta’s prehistoric civilizations and ancient history, from intricate temple carvings to centuries-old artifacts.Right in the heart of Valletta, the Auberge sits just steps from historic landmarks, so you can stroll from its doorway to a sunlit square in minutes-an easy highlight on any city tour.With its striking stonework and prime spot in Valletta, the building begs to be photographed.In Valletta, the Auberge d'Italie stands as a cornerstone of history and design, letting you step into Malta’s distant past while taking in the rich curves and gilded details of baroque style.
