The Auberge de Castille (Maltese: Il-Berġa ta' Kastilja) is located within the city of Valletta and houses the office of the Prime Minister of Malta.
Contents |
When the Knights of St John built the city of Valletta they constructed an auberge or inn for each seven of their eight langues (languages, or nationalities). The auberges were intended mainly as the residences of knights who did not have a home of their own in Malta. They were also used to receive people of distinction who, in their travels, found themselves in Malta and in need of hospitality.
The Auberge de Castille was the official seat of the knights of the Langue of Castille, León and Portugal – one of the most powerful of the Order, its Head being the Grand Chancellor. The Knights of this Langue were responsible for the defence of part of the fortifications of Valletta, known as the St Barbara Bastion. The Auberge is situated at the highest point of Valletta and originally looked out on the rolling countryside beyond, giving it a unique vantage-point unsurpassed by any other building in the city.
The original Auberge was built by the renowned Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar in 1574. It was extensively re-modelled and virtually rebuilt in 1741, the present plan of the imposing structure attributed to Andrea Belli. The building was damaged during the siege of the French forces (1799–1800) as well as during the Second World War (1939–1945).
Following the departure of the Knights, the Auberge de Castille served as the headquarters of the French occupation forces between 1798 and 1800 and as the British army headquarters after 1800.
It became the Office of the Prime Minister on 4th March 1972. In this building the Prime Minister leads the business of the government and every Monday he convenes his cabinet of ministers here.
The Auberge de Castille has been selected as the main motif for a recent commemorative coin, the Maltese Auberge de Castille commemorative coin, minted in 2008. On the reverse the Portico of the Auberge de Castille is shown; while on the obverse the Coat of arms of Malta is displayed.