Auberge d'Italie
The Auberge d'Italie (Maltese: Berġa tal-Italja, Italian: Albergo d'Italia) is an auberge in Valletta, Malta. It was built at various stages in the late 16th century to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Italy, and it originally had a Mannerist design by Girolamo Cassar and several other architects. The building continued to be modified throughout the course of the 17th century, with the last major renovation being carried out in the 1680s during the magistracy of Gregorio Carafa, giving the building a Baroque character.
| Auberge d'Italie | |
|---|---|
Berġa tal-Italja | |
Auberge d'Italie in 2020 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Intact |
| Type | Auberge |
| Architectural style | Mannerist and Baroque |
| Location | Valletta, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°53′47″N 14°30′41″E |
| Current tenants | Heritage Malta |
| Construction started | 1574 |
| Opened | September 1579 |
| Renovated | 1582–1595 1680–1683 |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone (façade decorated with marble) |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Girolamo Cassar Gio Andrea Farrugia |
| Engineer | Francesco Antrini |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect(s) | Mederico Blondel |
After the Order was expelled from Malta in 1798, the auberge was used for a number of purposes, housing a military headquarters, an officers' mess, a museum, a school of arts, a courthouse, the General Post Office and various government departments. Until recently, it housed the Malta Tourism Authority, and there are undergoing works of restoration. It is now converted to host the national collection (previously at National Museum of Fine Arts). In 2018 it became the new National Community Art Museum, MUŻA (from the Maltese acronym Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti).