Forni della Signoria, Historical bakehouse in Valletta, Malta.
Forni della Signoria was a large bakehouse in central Valletta containing multiple ovens and specialized spaces for bread production. The facility included storage areas, milling sections, and numerous ovens designed to produce bread in quantity for the city's needs.
The building was designed by architect Girolamo Cassar in the 1580s and served as a vital supply center for Valletta's needs. Operations ceased in 1845 when bread production shifted to a new Royal Naval Bakery located in Birgu.
The former bakery left its mark on local place names, with Old Bakery Street preserving a memory of what once stood here. Residents passed through this area daily for one of life's essential needs, making it central to neighborhood life.
The building no longer stands, but archaeological findings have revealed traces of its original location beneath modern streets. Visitors exploring the area can follow Old Bakery Street to get a sense of where this important site once existed.
In 2010, road work on Strait Street uncovered foundation walls of the original bakery buried beneath modern pavement. This discovery provided archaeologists with valuable insights into the exact location and layout of the complex.
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