Auberge d'Italie - National Community Art Museum, Valletta

The Auberge d'Italie, situated in Valletta, was constructed during the late 16th century to accommodate knights belonging to the Order of Saint John from the Italian region. Designed originally in a Mannerist style by Girolamo Cassar and several other architects, the building underwent various modifications over the 17th century, culminating in a significant renovation in the 1680s under the magistracy of Gregorio Carafa, resulting in its Baroque appearance.

Following the expulsion of the Order from Malta in 1798, the auberge served multiple functions over the years, including as a military headquarters, officers' mess, museum, arts school, courthouse, General Post Office, and housing various government offices. Recently, it housed the Malta Tourism Authority before undergoing restoration works. Currently, it has been repurposed to house the national collection, previously housed at the National Museum of Fine Arts, and is now the home of the National Community Art Museum, MUZA, established in 2018.

MUZA, located within the Auberge d'Italie, was previously housed at Admiralty House from 1974 to 2016 under the name National Museum of Fine Arts. It boasts a diverse collection of works by Maltese and foreign artists, showcasing major European artistic styles.

Among its highlights is the extensive collection of paintings by Southern Italian Baroque artist Mattia Preti (1613–1699), an Italian Knight of the Order of Malta, who played a significant role in the interior design of Saint John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Additionally, MUZA houses a rare and impressive collection of antique maps.

The museum also features works by notable Maltese sculptors Melchiorre Gafà (1636–1667) and Antonio Sciortino (1879–1947), alongside a remarkable selection of Maltese landscapes.