Auberge de Castille (1744) — the grandest building of the Knights of Malta, today the Office of the Prime Minister. Its honey limestone façade is an icon of Valletta.
The Auberge de Castille stands on the highest point of Valletta and is the most magnificent building erected by the Knights of Malta. It was the seat of the Castilian-Portuguese langue — one of the most powerful in the Order. The present building is the result of a 1744 reconstruction commissioned by Grand Master Manuel Pinto de Fonseca, who was himself Portuguese and wanted his langue's residence to outshine all others.
The façade is a masterpiece of Maltese baroque: symmetrical, majestic, with Pinto de Fonseca's grand coat of arms above the entrance. The honey-coloured limestone makes the building look as if carved from gold, especially at sunset. The steps leading to the entrance, flanked by cannons, add a theatrical effect. It is no coincidence that filmmakers shoot "royal palace" scenes here.
After the Knights departed, the British used the building as military headquarters. Since Malta's independence in 1964, the Auberge de Castille has been the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. This is where the country's most important political decisions are made. The building is closed to tourists, but the façade alone is one of the most photographed sights in Valletta.
Practical tip: Best photo of the façade from the square near Upper Barrakka Gardens — especially at sunset, when the limestone takes on a golden glow.
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Exterior view only — building closed. Great photos from the square near Upper Barrakka.
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