Auberge de Castille et Portugal, Birgu

Historic Building in Birgu

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Continentaleurope

The Auberge de Castille et Portugal (Maltese: Berġa ta' Kastilja u Portugall) is one of Birgu's most historically significant buildings, originally constructed to house the Knights of the Order of Saint John belonging to the Langue of Castille, León, and Portugal. The first auberge for this Langue, referred to as the vecchia alberghia di Castiglia, was built in the 1530s, shortly after the Order settled in Malta. Its exact location remains uncertain, and no visible traces of that early structure survive today.

The second auberge, which still stands today, was constructed during the rule of Grand Master Claude de la Sengle and designed by architect Niccolò Bellavante. Built in the traditional Maltese (Melitan) architectural style, it stood on what is now Hilda Tabone Street—formerly known as Barrack Front Street. This elegant residence served the knights of Castille and Portugal until 1574, when the Order relocated to Valletta and commissioned the grander Auberge de Castille that now dominates the upper end of the city's main street.

Although the Birgu auberge has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries, fragments of its original design remain. Notable surviving features include a quoin (cornerstone) and several windows with distinctive Melitan mouldings, offering a glimpse into the architectural style favored by the Order during its early years in Malta. Despite private ownership and adaptation over time, the building continues to embody Birgu's layered heritage as one of the Order's earliest centers of activity.

Recognizing its historic and architectural importance, the Auberge de Castille et Portugal was included on the Antiquities List of 1925, alongside other Birgu auberges. In 2009, it was further protected as a Grade 1 national monument, and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands — preserving its legacy as one of the key residences that once served the distinguished knights of Castille, León, and Portugal.

The Auberge de Castille et Portugal, Birgu appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Birgu!

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