Towards the end of the 17th century a large residential palace was built facing the entrance of Marsamxett Harbour. This was Palazzo Carniero, built to the design of the Maltese born Carlo Gimach. Eventually the building was used by the future Grand Master, Marc’Antonio Zondadari. During the second half of the 18th century, the Anglo-Bavarian Langue was instituted, and this palace was bought to be used as their auberge. The building is imposing, with its balanced façade dominated by the open balcony above the main doorway. The design gave the building a sense of stability. Beneath the building a rock-cut shelter was excavated, offering shelter to the locals living in the area during the many air-raids of World War Two. During the 20th century this building was used as a primary school.
Auberge d’Aragon
he 19th century. The Protestant Bishop of Malta and Gibraltar used to reside in this building. When Malta was given independence in 1964, this became the Office of the Prime Minister. It remained so until the early 1970s when the office was moved to the Auberge of Castile. Today it is being used by one of the Ministries.
The Auberge of Italy
The original building was built to the design of Glormu Cassar, and in the 17th century the building had several additions to it. It was at the time of Grand Master Gregorio Carafa that the decorative façade was added. The large, balanced façade is decorated with marble ornaments, depicting the bust of Grand Master Carafa, surrounded by many carvings of arms and flags, known as the trophy of arms. It is understood that the marble used for the decoration on the façade is derived from the remains of a Roman temple in Mtarfa, dedicated to Proserpine. The present façade was built on the design of the architect Mederico Blondel, a French resident architect, of the Order of St. John. The building is currently in use by MUSEUM, the National Museum of Community Art.
Auberge of Provence
The Langue of Provence built their first auberge around 1571. The architect was Gerolamo Cassar. It was a one-storey building, and probably was even smaller than at present. Eventually, during the 17th century, the Langue commissioned the French architect Mederico Blondel to design the present façade. The building was also enlarged, and the presumed small square in front of the building was built over. The façade is monumental, and it is very balanced. The corners are typical of Cassar’s style, which Blondel retained. In between the ground floor and the upper floor, a mezzanine level was inserted. The ground floor was planned to have shops. This building is considered as one of the finest Mannerist buildings that we have in Malta. During the 19th century the building was used as a guest house and as a social club. It was taken over by the then Museum Department, and nowadays it is the National Museum of Archaeology.
President’s Palace
When in 1571 Grand Master Pietro del Monte ordered the transfer of the Order’s headquarters from Birgu to the newly built Valletta, his own palace had not been built yet. He went to live in a house which belonged to his nephew, and eventually it was decided that the Grand Master’s Palace would be built in that area of Valletta. The palace was designed by Gerolamo Cassar. Throughout the years it was enlarged more than once, and its present façade dates to the time of Grand Master Emanuel Pinto de Fonseca. Eventually the Palace was used by the British Governor, and since 1974 it has been used as the office of the President of Malta. Along the façade there are a number of marble tablets commemorating recent events in the history of Malta.
Bishop’s Palace
Soon after the arrival of the Order of St John in Malta in 1530, and their setting up their headquarters in Birgu, the Bishop of Malta saw it fit to build his own palace there as well. The Palace, on the instructions of Bishop Domenico Cubelles, included also a number of prison cells, as the then Bishop was also the Pro-Inquisitor for Malta. It continued to be used as such until in the beginning of the 17th century, when another Bishop’s Palace was built in Valletta. This building continued to be used by the Bishops, whenever they visited the area during their pastoral visits. For a number of years, this building was used as an infants’ school.
