Palace Armoury, Military museum in Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta, Malta.
The Palace Armoury is a military museum in Valletta housing more than 5700 pieces of military equipment spanning different eras and nations. The collection includes full suits of armor, historic firearms, swords, and other weapons originating from Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
The weapons collection was transferred to the Palace by Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt in 1604, where it remained in storage for centuries. It opened to the public in 1860, becoming Malta's first museum of its kind.
The collection displays armor and weapons from different European nations, showing how soldiers were equipped across various periods. You can observe how craftsmanship techniques and designs varied among different military traditions.
The museum is easily accessible on foot from central Valletta and features clear signage in multiple languages. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the historic palace has uneven stairs and corridors with no elevators.
Some of the finest armor pieces in the collection were ceremonial wear used for formal occasions and pageantry, not actual combat. These elaborately decorated pieces showcase the craftsmanship and wealth of the rulers who commissioned them.
Location: Valletta
Inception: 1604
Founders: John Le Marchant
Official opening: 1860
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Address: Grand Master’s Palace, St George’s Square, Valletta VLT 1191
Website: http://heritagemalta.org/museums-sites/the-palace-armoury
GPS coordinates: 35.89851,14.51434
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42
Malta combines thousands of years of history with varied coastal landscapes across a compact island area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers). The capital Valletta contains major structures including the Co-Cathedral of St. John with its Caravaggio paintings, the National Museum of Archaeology, and the 18th-century Manoel Theatre. The city displays baroque architecture and military installations from the Knights of Malta period. The Neolithic temple complexes rank among the world's oldest freestanding stone structures. Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra near Qrendi date from around 3600 to 3200 BC, while the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are even older. The Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola is an underground necropolis with multiple chambers. The Tarxien temples show decorated stone blocks and reliefs. The coastline offers different formations: the Dingli Cliffs reach 830 feet (253 meters) in height, while the Blue Grotto near Qrendi features sea caves with turquoise water. The Blue Lagoon on Comino has shallow, clear water. Golden Bay near Mellieħa is a sandy beach. Fort Rinella in Kalkara preserves an 1884 Armstrong gun. The medieval town of Mdina and the Citadel in Victoria on Gozo display fortress architecture from different periods.
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