Auberge D’Italie, Valletta

Historic Building and Tourist Office in Valletta

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Matthew Axiak

The Auberge D'Italie is one of Valletta's most distinguished architectural gems — a graceful relic from the era of the Knights Hospitaller, when each national “langue” of the Order had its own grand residence within the fortified city. Designed by Girolamo Cassar in the late 16th century, the building was originally constructed to house the Italian knights of the Order of St. John. Its dignified proportions and elegant Baroque façade exemplify Cassar's refined sense of symmetry and balance, setting the tone for many of Valletta's most important buildings. Situated near St. John's Co-Cathedral and the Grand Master's Palace, the Auberge D'Italie remains a cornerstone of the city's UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

Within its stately walls, the Italian knights carried out administrative and diplomatic duties, making the Auberge D'Italie one of the most active and prestigious of the Order's auberges. It served as both a meeting place and residence for the Italian “langue,” whose members played a key role in the governance and defense of Malta. The building's façade is rich in symbolic detail, featuring sculpted coats of arms belonging to Grand Masters Fra L'Isle Adam and Fra de Vilhena, as well as a niche holding a statue of Grand Master Gregorio Carafa — a fitting tribute to the men who shaped the Order's legacy.

Following the departure of the Knights and the political changes that swept Malta in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the Auberge D'Italie took on a series of new roles. Under French and British rule, it was adapted for military and civil purposes, at one time serving as a public dispensary and later housing law courts and the Malta School of Art. Despite its varied uses, the building retained its dignified elegance, weathering centuries of political shifts and social change.

In 2002, the Auberge D'Italie began a new chapter as the official home of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) — a fitting use for a building that has long stood at the intersection of Maltese culture and hospitality. Today, its restored interiors host administrative offices as well as art exhibitions and cultural events, ensuring that creativity continues to thrive within its historic walls. The Auberge D'Italie is not only a monument to Valletta's architectural mastery but also a living symbol of Malta's ability to blend its storied past with a dynamic present.

The Auberge D’Italie, Valletta appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Valletta!

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