The best museums Valette

This magnificent museum boasts a spectacular collection, providing a fascinating insight into the prehistory and early history of the Maltese islands. With artefacts ranging from Malta's Neolithic period (5900-2500 BC) to the early Phoenician period (^8th-6th century BC), the National Museum of Archaeology will undoubtedly be your first port of call for understanding the richness of the land you are about to visit, and learning more about its inhabitants and their ancestors.
The first stage of the visit, the first floor is dedicated to the Neolithic period. It features the first tools and vessels used by prehistoric man to facilitate his daily tasks. Representations of animal and human figures not only show the advanced artistic skills of the first islanders, but also give us a glimpse into their daily lives. These objects come from various Maltese sites that have been classified as Unesco World Heritage Sites, such as the megalithic temples and the hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni. This includes such illustrious objects as "The Sleeping Lady", the Venus of Malta and the colossal statue from the prehistoric complex of Hal-Tarxien.
The upper floor currently houses sections from the Bronze Age and the Phoenician period. The majority of objects range in size from small ritual vessels to funerary urns and amphorae. Phoenician objects in glass and gold, as well as an impressively large terracotta sarcophagus, also feature prominently in this section. The National Museum, housed in the Auberge de Provence, is a fine example of the Baroque style that flourished in Malta under the Knights of the Order of St. John. Dating from 1571, it housed the Provençal-speaking knights. Particularly noteworthy is the upper floor, which houses the Grand Salon, a uniquely large painted room with decorations dating from the early 1800s. This space is currently used for national exhibitions and events such as conferences, fashion shows, photo shoots and TV shoots.
The National Museum of Archaeology also organizes regular temporary exhibitions designed to showcase the objects in its storerooms.

This museum was devoted to the life of the Maltese during the Second World War during which the bombing was particularly deadly on the island. It is housed in a British military bunkhouse in the th century in the city walls. Completely renovated, it has seen its collections in 9 galleries, each dedicated to a period of war, bringing together 10 000 objects, weapons, etc. You will discover an exhibition of military objects and daily daily life. You can also browse the parts and tunnels (a veritable 1 km labyrinth) dug by hand by men, women, but also children and old people. Hundreds of people réfugiaient when the bombs fell. You will learn how they were dug and installed (aeration system, etc.) and the life they were driving (objects, back-back sounds).

Opened in 1975, it is located in a former powder magazine of the fort of Saint-Elme, transformed in 1853 into a weapons room during its expansion by the British. If it allows you to visit the fort of Saint-Elme, it also exposes the history of the island in a chronological way. The visit begins with the discovery of prehistoric objects from the Bronze Age (2500 BC). Then you will be able to watch different video projections that approach a little-known aspect of this history: the different invasions of the island: the Western Roman Empire, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Normans, the Angevins, the Catalans etc. The second block deals with the glorious Maltese military past: the Great Siege and the decisive role of Fort St. Elmo, with pictures of illustrations, armor, crossbows, cannonballs. Then comes the block dedicated to the story of the two wars of the twentieth century. Large photographic panels and many objects present the military operations from 1940 to 1943. In addition, you will notice the Faith biplane, one of the three planes that constituted Malta's only defense at the beginning of the war, General Eisenhower's Jeep, which he used during the invasion of Sicily in 1943, but also the George Cross, offered by King George VI to the Maltese people as a reward for their courage. The visit ends with the historical conclusion, the independence and then the Republic of Malta leading to the integration into the European Union in 2004.

Since its reopening on February 9, 2024, it has been presenting a temporary exhibition that will be on view for a year. Entitled Une île à la croisée des chemins (An island at the crossroads ), it aims to shed light on the identity of this island nation over the centuries. The exhibition includes a year-long program of activities: conferences, events on the history of taste, educational programs for children... You'll even have the chance to spend a night inside the Maritime Museum, as it is spread throughout the museum. In fact, after several years of closure, which led to substantial restoration and revitalization of the museum, partly financed by EEE Norway grants, you'll once again be able to contemplate all the museum's riches. The story told by this museum is based on a series of eclectic objects, all indelibly linked to the history of Malta. And each telling the story of how religions, cultures and nations have clashed or even coexisted on a rock, a surrounding sea, and an ever-smaller world. We'll discover how an existing anchorage from Roman antiquity is linked to the local faith and cultural memory of the community, how the lives of men and women in Malta depended mainly on privateer incursions, their activities portrayed in local folk tales, and how, in the last century, the search for a state was accompanied by great economic anxiety.

A small museum worth seeing. Among the interesting exhibits: votive paintings made by sailors to thank the Virgin Mary for protecting them at sea, old religious objects (sedan chairs, for example), ship models, the Vulcan XM645 memorial, a knight's full suit of armor, and various interesting paintings by famous Maltese and foreign painters.

Located near the Grand Master's Palace and the Church of Our Lady of Damascus, this new Postal Museum was inaugurated with great pomp and circumstance in 2016. Housed in a mid-20th century house, designed by architect Giuseppe Cachia Caruana and completely renovated, it provides an insight into the historical role played by the Post in Malta since the 16th century. For example, you can admire the first Maltese stamp with the yellow Halpenny; a letter signed by Lord Nelson; a poignant love letter from an Italian in prison during the war and an impressive collection of stamps by Emvin Cremona, the very famous red motorbike of the Maltese postmen, the "James Captain", etc. Two galleries offer a temporary exhibition of photographs by Richard Ellis, the other one offers a presentation of the work of Emvin Cremona, considered by all to be one of the greatest Maltese artists of the 20th century. Note that it is possible to go on a treasure hunt (all different if you are 8, 15 or even 40 years old) within the museum which makes it very fun for those who are not passionate about stamps. The children are crazy about it because they have a reserved space where they can put on the postman's uniform or design their own stamp. In the shop area you can personalise everything: colourful cards, stationery, stamps and even the mascot specially created by the museum, Peppi Pustier. You will be able to put your personal holiday photos or any other image you like on these objects.

Featuring interactive museology, it will enable you to discover the evolution of Malta's fortifications. Located in rue Saint-Marc, it aims to explore the evolution of Malta's fortresses throughout the island's history, and to bring to life a vanished world in order to better understand the different stages of the island's fortifications and the defense strategies implemented by its administrators throughout its history.