The National Museum of Archaeology, which is one of the museums managed by Heritage Malta, displays an exceptional array of artefacts from Malta's unique prehistoric periods starting with the first arrival of man and continuing with the Bronze Age and the early Phoenician Period. The collection is housed in the Auberge de Provençe, one of the most important buildings to be erected in Malta's baroq
ue capital city, Valletta, after the Great Siege in the late 16th century. The construction of the Auberge was probably entrusted to the local architect Gerolamo Cassar (1520-86). Among the more captivating features of the Auberge is the upper floor Gran Salon with its richly painted walls and wooden beamed ceiling. Over the centuries, the Auberge has undergone architectural changes, but it remains one of the best preserved residences of the Knights. The building served as the main residence for the Provençal Knights of the Order of St John. Following the departure of the Order from Malta, the property was administered by the French during their brief occupation of the Islands. It was later on taken over by the British Government and served as military barracks, a hotel, a Union Club, an auction house and, eventually, in 1958 it was inaugurated as The National Museum. When the collections continued to grow, the Fine Arts section was moved to the Admiralty house in South Street and in 1974 The National Museum became The National Museum of Archaeology. Work is currently being carried out so that in the next months more halls on the Upper floor, exhibiting the Punic, Roman, Byzantine and Medieval periods, will be opened.
