The Palace Armoury is found in the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta, Malta.[1]
This museum lodges an interesting armours collection which is housed in their original buildings, what's more one can find crossbows, swords, arms, guns, shotguns and bronze cannons.[2]
Although only a fraction of its original splendour (the "organised robbery of art treasure and historic treasures"[3] by Napoleonic forces after 1798 being the primary reason for the reduction in the size of the collection) the Armoury still contains material of Italian, German, French and Spanish origin from principal arms production centres. Examples of splendid parade armour by master armourers command pride of place. The armour decorator’s art is displayed on various exquisite pieces.
Exotic examples of Turkish armour are also displayed in the Islamic & Ottoman section.
The Knights of St John were a unique brotherhood of resolute warrior monks. From Malta, their island stronghold, these combatant aristocrats carried out their crusades against the Ottoman Turks. The Palace Armoury is certainly one of the most visible and tangible symbols of the past glories of the Sovereign Hospitaller Military Order of Malta.
The museum is managed by Heritage Malta and it is open daily from 9.00 to 17.00. Provision of hand-held audio guides with 85 stops is available. These guides are available in six languages (Maltese, English, Italian, French, German and Spanish) revealing the history of the various arms used in different eras beginning from the medieval times.