Three Cities
MUSEUMS INQUISITOR'S PALACE
Location : Main Gate Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Monday to Sunday between 0900 hours to 1700 hours (Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January and Good Friday).
Description : The Inquisitor's Palace, situated in the heart of Vittoriosa originated in 1542, at a time when the Catholic Church all over Europe was in crisis due to the increasingly popular Protestant doctrines. The Inquisition reigned over the Maltese Islands for more than two centuries between 1574 and 1798 with 62 Inquisitors, all Italian, leaving their indelible mark upon the country and its natives. The Inquisitor's Palace consists of impressive courtroom where judgments were read.
Admission : Adults (18 to 59 years) €6, students and senior citizens €4.50 whilst children (6 to 11 years) €3
Website : www.heritagemalta.org
VITTORIOSA CHURCH MUSEUM
Location : St. Joseph Oratory, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Daily from 0900 hours to 1200 hours.
Description : The Church Museum just off the left of the main square is a great little museum in the old style. The museum houses a collection of artifacts related to Birgu's past all kept in wooden display cabinets and range from the mundane to unique items such as de la Vallette's hat and sword and a set of banned 16th century playing cards which have the tarot on the back.
Admission : Free but donation is appreciated.
MARITIME MUSEUM
Location : Ex Naval Bakery, Victoriosa Waterfront, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Monday to Sunday between 0900 hours to 1700 hours (Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January and Good Friday).
Description : The museum is housed in the former British naval bakery, built in 1842 over the site of a slipway where the Order of St John repaired their war galleys. The museum exhibits two ceremonial barges of the Grand Masters Wignacourt and De Vilhena, several models of sailing ships and galleys of the Order of the Knights of St. John, paintings, nautical instruments, authentic guns and cannons and traditional Maltese boats.
Admission : Adults (18 to 59 years) €5, students and senior citizens €3.50 whilst children (6 to 11 years) €2.50.
Website : www.heritagemalta.org
THE MALTA AT WAR MUSEUM
Location : Couvre Porte Gate, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Monday to Sunday between 0930 hours to 1600 hours (Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January and Good Friday).
Description : The rehabilitation of two rooms and underground air raid shelter at Couvre’ Porte Gate, Vittoriosa, has been converted into the home-front Malta At War Museum. This project includes an exhibit that establishes the dedication of the long years of ordeal endured by the Maltese nation during the WWII.
Admission : Adults (16 to 59 years) €7.00 and children (6 to 15 years) €5.00
Website : www.wirtartna.org
Location : Main Gate Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Monday to Sunday between 0900 hours to 1700 hours (Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January and Good Friday).
Description : The Inquisitor's Palace, situated in the heart of Vittoriosa originated in 1542, at a time when the Catholic Church all over Europe was in crisis due to the increasingly popular Protestant doctrines. The Inquisition reigned over the Maltese Islands for more than two centuries between 1574 and 1798 with 62 Inquisitors, all Italian, leaving their indelible mark upon the country and its natives. The Inquisitor's Palace consists of impressive courtroom where judgments were read.
Admission : Adults (18 to 59 years) €6, students and senior citizens €4.50 whilst children (6 to 11 years) €3
Website : www.heritagemalta.org
VITTORIOSA CHURCH MUSEUM
Location : St. Joseph Oratory, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Daily from 0900 hours to 1200 hours.
Description : The Church Museum just off the left of the main square is a great little museum in the old style. The museum houses a collection of artifacts related to Birgu's past all kept in wooden display cabinets and range from the mundane to unique items such as de la Vallette's hat and sword and a set of banned 16th century playing cards which have the tarot on the back.
Admission : Free but donation is appreciated.
MARITIME MUSEUM
Location : Ex Naval Bakery, Victoriosa Waterfront, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Monday to Sunday between 0900 hours to 1700 hours (Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January and Good Friday).
Description : The museum is housed in the former British naval bakery, built in 1842 over the site of a slipway where the Order of St John repaired their war galleys. The museum exhibits two ceremonial barges of the Grand Masters Wignacourt and De Vilhena, several models of sailing ships and galleys of the Order of the Knights of St. John, paintings, nautical instruments, authentic guns and cannons and traditional Maltese boats.
Admission : Adults (18 to 59 years) €5, students and senior citizens €3.50 whilst children (6 to 11 years) €2.50.
Website : www.heritagemalta.org
THE MALTA AT WAR MUSEUM
Location : Couvre Porte Gate, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Monday to Sunday between 0930 hours to 1600 hours (Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January and Good Friday).
Description : The rehabilitation of two rooms and underground air raid shelter at Couvre’ Porte Gate, Vittoriosa, has been converted into the home-front Malta At War Museum. This project includes an exhibit that establishes the dedication of the long years of ordeal endured by the Maltese nation during the WWII.
Admission : Adults (16 to 59 years) €7.00 and children (6 to 15 years) €5.00
Website : www.wirtartna.org
CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SITES ST LAWRENCE'S CHURCH
Location : St. Lawrece Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Daily from 0900 hours to 1700 hours.
Description : St Lawrence's Church was the conventual church of the Knights of St John before the Cathedral in Valletta took over that role. This church is built in Baroque style and is in the shape of a Latin cross. The columns are of very beautiful ocrecolored marble and on each column one can see the eight-pointed cross. The church has a statue of St Lawrence holding the gridiron on which he was crucified.
Admission : Free.
Location : St. Lawrece Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time : Daily from 0900 hours to 1700 hours.
Description : St Lawrence's Church was the conventual church of the Knights of St John before the Cathedral in Valletta took over that role. This church is built in Baroque style and is in the shape of a Latin cross. The columns are of very beautiful ocrecolored marble and on each column one can see the eight-pointed cross. The church has a statue of St Lawrence holding the gridiron on which he was crucified.
Admission : Free.
BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES FORT ST. ANGELO
Location : Old Prison Street, Vittoriosa.
Opening Time : N/A.
Description : According to tradition, the fort stands on the site of a fortified Roman settlement. In medieval times, the fort was occupied by the Aragonese and the Angevins. In 1530, when the Knights arrived on the Islands, the fort became the seat of the Grand Master of the Order. The fort played a heroic role in the Great Siege of 1565, when, against all odds, it managed to repel a formidable Ottoman army. The core of the fort (where the Grand Masters lived and worshipped) is now under the care of the Knights of St John, and has been beautifully restored, but is not open to the public.
Admission : Majority is fre of charge. Top part is not accessible.
AUBERGES IN BIRGU
Location : Spread around Victoriosa but mostly in Hilda Tabone Street.
Opening Time :
Description : When settling down in the harbour town of Birgu, the Knights erected seven auberges, one for each tongue of the Order with the tongue of Provence and Auvergne sharing one auberge. The auberges in Birgu were built between 1533 and 1535; their architect is not known. The three surviving auberges, the Auberge d'Auvergne and Provence, the Auberge de France and the Auberge d'Angleterre, all consist of two floors. On the ground floor one could find the kitchen, stables and store rooms, while on the first floor they hold rooms for meetings and dinners.
Admission :
BISHOP'S PALACE
Location : Old Bishop’s Palace Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time :
Description : The Palace was built by Bishop Cubelles in 1542, and enlarged in 1615 by Bishop Cagliares, the last bishop residing in Vittoriosa before moving to Valletta. The Palace also served as the Bishop's Curia, and more recently as a school.
Admission :
PALACE OF THE UNIVERSITA
Location : Popular Council Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time :
Description : The Universita Palace was erected in 1538 to house the institution which took care of the needs of the town including the regular importation of wheat.
Admission :
Location : Old Prison Street, Vittoriosa.
Opening Time : N/A.
Description : According to tradition, the fort stands on the site of a fortified Roman settlement. In medieval times, the fort was occupied by the Aragonese and the Angevins. In 1530, when the Knights arrived on the Islands, the fort became the seat of the Grand Master of the Order. The fort played a heroic role in the Great Siege of 1565, when, against all odds, it managed to repel a formidable Ottoman army. The core of the fort (where the Grand Masters lived and worshipped) is now under the care of the Knights of St John, and has been beautifully restored, but is not open to the public.
Admission : Majority is fre of charge. Top part is not accessible.
AUBERGES IN BIRGU
Location : Spread around Victoriosa but mostly in Hilda Tabone Street.
Opening Time :
Description : When settling down in the harbour town of Birgu, the Knights erected seven auberges, one for each tongue of the Order with the tongue of Provence and Auvergne sharing one auberge. The auberges in Birgu were built between 1533 and 1535; their architect is not known. The three surviving auberges, the Auberge d'Auvergne and Provence, the Auberge de France and the Auberge d'Angleterre, all consist of two floors. On the ground floor one could find the kitchen, stables and store rooms, while on the first floor they hold rooms for meetings and dinners.
Admission :
BISHOP'S PALACE
Location : Old Bishop’s Palace Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time :
Description : The Palace was built by Bishop Cubelles in 1542, and enlarged in 1615 by Bishop Cagliares, the last bishop residing in Vittoriosa before moving to Valletta. The Palace also served as the Bishop's Curia, and more recently as a school.
Admission :
PALACE OF THE UNIVERSITA
Location : Popular Council Street, Victoriosa.
Opening Time :
Description : The Universita Palace was erected in 1538 to house the institution which took care of the needs of the town including the regular importation of wheat.
Admission :