Auberge de Provence, Baroque auberge in Valletta, Malta
Auberge de Provence is a Baroque building on Republic Street in Valletta featuring a symmetrical facade with rectangular windows and ornamental columns across two floors. It now houses the National Museum of Archaeology, displaying prehistoric artifacts from the Maltese archipelago.
Girolamo Cassar designed this building in 1571 as the headquarters for the French branch of the Knights of St John. Major changes were made to the structure in 1638, reshaping its interior layout.
The upper floor hall displays painted walls and wooden ceiling details that reflect how the French knights once lived within these rooms. Visitors can sense the daily life and gatherings that took place in this space.
Access is from Republic Street where the building stands prominently in the heart of the old town. The rooms are arranged in a logical sequence, making self-guided exploration straightforward without large crowds.
Nine rectangular rooms facing the street were added in later renovations, discovered by blocked-off windows visible in the original facade. This layering of different construction periods reveals itself when you look closely at the building details.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.