Monuments to visit Birgu – Citta Vittoriosa

Built on a mound at the tip of the Birgu peninsula, this fortress dominates the Grand Harbour. A strategic position identified as far back as Antiquity, particularly after the Phoenicians colonized the area in the first millennium BC, who, according to legend, built a complex dedicated to Astarte, followed later by a Roman complex dedicated to Juno. But it was during the Middle Ages that the Castrum Maris (seaside castle) was built, consisting of two enclosures, to protect the interests of the foreign crown in the Maltese islands. After 1530, the Order of St. John radically transformed Castrum Maris, naming it Fort St. Angelo and making it its headquarters, which also served as the residence of the Grand Master between 1530 and 1558. The former medieval castle was transformed into a gunpowder fortress by the construction of a series of artillery platforms, which enabled it to play a major role in the great siege of 1565. In 1690, Fort St Angelo took on its current appearance as a stronghold capable of defending the coast. Under British rule, it became a Royal Navy shore establishment from 1912 to 1979, and was renamed HMS St Angelo in 1933. The tour not only reveals its history through exhibits, but also allows you to visualize the different architectural styles of this monument. And, of course, you can take in the panoramic view of the Grand Port and surrounding fortified towns.

Sold in Birgu by knights, they are bought by individuals who turn their structures into residences. You will notice that strangely a house was built in the middle of the facade, leaving the side sides visible.

Recent studies have made it possible to update architectural elements dating back to a bygone era to knights, such as a Byzantine tile.

France has three languages represented in Birgu, with the Auberge de France, the Auberge de Provence and the Auberge d'Auvergne, all located in the Collachio district. The Auberge de France is one of the most beautiful in Birgu, with an elaborately decorated façade attributed to the architect Bartholomeo Menga.

The vestibule of this residence is modest in size, but its ceiling is Renaissance, and you'll reach a loggia via an attractive staircase. On the main door, you can see the original fleur-de-lys emblem.

After the knights left for Valletta, the inn became private property, then was used as a communal school at the start of the English occupation, then as a carpentry workshop, until it was finally declared state property.

During the Second World War, the Auberge de France in Valletta was destroyed, leaving the one in Birgu as the only Auberge de France in Malta. In 1980, a museum of political history was installed here. It failed to attract much interest and is now closed. The hostel now houses the local Council and hosts occasional thematic and art exhibitions.

Fully restored, it is now used as a library. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this magnificent residence, which was donated to the English language in May 1535 by Sir Clement. If you have the time, head up to the roof, not for the view but for the pleasure of climbing one of the old, narrow Maltese staircases.

It is located in the old town of Birgu. It is a unique building that housed the Inquisitor and the Apostolic Delegate for over two centuries, as Malta presented a singular scene in which the Inquisitors assumed their dual role as supreme judges of the Holy Office and Apostolic Delegates representing the Vatican's interests in Malta. Between 1574 and 1798, this palace served as the perfect theater for an ecclesiastical diplomat, a sophisticated residence and a court with an austere penitentiary complex for the inquisitor. Today, it is the only inquisitor's palace still open to the public. The building's origins can be traced back to the Knights of the Order of St. John, who, when settling in Birgu, adapted the existing buildings to establish their administrative center, including the former Magna Curia Castellania, in the north-western quarter of the present site. Following the Order's move to the new city of Valletta, the Castellania passed to the Inquisition, triggering an organic growth that spread into adjacent buildings until it reached its current footprint in the 1650s. Various Inquisitors undertook embellishment projects to transform the building into a palazzo romano typical of the dignitaries of Baroque Rome. This culminated in a major project undertaken by Inquisitor Francesco Stoppani in 1733 and 1734 to plans by the resident high-Baroque architect Romano Carapecchia. From then on, the stage was set and subsequent changes were mainly associated with use brought in by the new residents. Administered by Heritage Malta, the site is both a historic house museum and a national museum of ethnography.
The current experience is constantly being improved, but one can still enjoy a walk through three distinct sections, the domestic space and kitchen on the first floor, and the piano nobile, which includes both formal rooms and private quarters spanning two floors. The third part of the visitor experience concerns the spaces belonging to the Holy Office itself, including the tribunal room, the torture chamber and the penitentiary complex. The museum experience is rounded off by an emphasis on an outreach program packed with events and educational sessions, themselves linked to the religious ethnographic exhibits.

The university looked after the importation of wheat and its distribution according to the needs of the city. Built in 1538, this building will place the seat of the university until the conquest of Malta by the British.

Built in 1531, he is the first hospital run by the knights. In 1652 it was given to the Benedictine people who still occupy it today. The chapel of the Order of the Order, of which Lorenzo Gafà drew up the plans in 1672, has an altar painted by Mattia Preti. Do not confuse this hospital, with the Sacra Infermeria in Valletta, built in 1604 and became the Mediterranean conference centre.

Located rue de la Tour Saint-Jean, it has experienced many uses: it served as a warehouse, a hospital and a military district during the British period. It is located close to the two major defensive towers, the Saint James Tower and the Saint John Tower. From the terrace of the Saint James Tower, you will have a superb view of the nearby village Kalkara and Fort Ricasoli.