Auberge de Castille


In addition to the beautiful beaches of Malta, tourists will be interested in visiting such an object as Auberge de Castille, or Castilian farmstead, and in literal translation from the French - Castile tavern. The house is built on the highest point of the city of Valletta , so it is not difficult to find it. From the top you can see a beautiful view of Floriana and Grand Harbor, the sea and the whole city. It is such a beautiful building in the Baroque style that its portico is depicted on the euro coin collectors. In the time of the knights, Auberge de Castille served as an inn. Currently, there is the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. This building is listed in Valletta's archaeological treasury.

A bit of history

The Auberge de Castille was built in Valletta in the late 16th century to accommodate the knights of seven of its associations. The author of the Castilian tavern is the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar, later the building was restored by another architect. Years later, the knight's hotel became the property of the city. In one of her rooms was a Protestant chapel. During the Second World War, the building was heavily bombed and heavily damaged.

Architecture of the Castilian farmstead

After passing through the city gates of City Gate and Freedom Square of Valletta, you will see a beautiful building - Auberge de Castille, built in neoclassical style. In sunny weather, the building from shell rock is poured with extraordinary colors. You will like rectangular windows framed with ornate stucco molding. One of them, the central one, which is located above the entrance, is equipped with beautiful Italian shutters closing outside.

The roof of the building is decorated with the arms of the knightly orders of Portugal and Spain. Above the portico, decorated with magnificent columns, you can see the bust of Emmanuel Pinto de Fonseca. And the entrance is guarded by two guns and policemen in full dress. If you have time, you can watch the changing of the guard, the action takes 10 - 15 minutes. In the evening you can admire the beautiful illumination of the building and the fountain.

What can you see in Auberge de Castille?

Inside the premises remained almost unchanged, and the stones keep the memory of historical events. Walking corridors of the building, you can feel the spirit of the knightly era. The rooms of Auberge de Castille are decorated with magnificent wall paintings that reflect the history of Malta . Among the canvases you can see the works of Batoni, Van Loo, Ribers. But inside is not so easy to get - the residence is closed for visits. To visit Auberge de Castille is possible only at a special invitation and on certain days, the visit needs to be agreed in advance.

What's interesting next?

In front of the central entrance you can see an unusual stylish fountain. Opposite the building is the Hastings Gardens - a kind of paradise with beautiful views of Manoel Island and Marsamxett Bay.

Through a narrow street, next to the former Castilian house, the church of St. Catherine and the tower Saint James Cavalier are located. By the way, there are a lot of different architectural monuments and marvelous parks in the vicinity, as well as near the waterfront . The location of Auberge de Castille is convenient because there are hotels, banks, shops, and, of course, cafes and restaurants of Maltese cuisine .

How to get to Auberge de Castille?

The historic monument of Auberge de Castille can be reached by bus No. 133, at the Kastilja stop.