MUŻA – The National Community Art Museum

About the museum

MUŻA, the Maltese word for “muse”, opened in late 2018 as a legacy project of Valletta’s year as European Capital of Culture. It succeeded the former National Museum of Fine Arts at Admiralty House and occupies the Auberge d’Italie, a late 16th-century building put up for the Italian knights of the Order of St John. The building has been restored to reveal its historic layers, with contemporary interventions such as the main staircase.

The displays follow a sequence of artistic styles and themes that trace Malta’s artistic and historical journey and its position as a crossroads of European, North African and Middle Eastern influences. The permanent exhibition unfolds in four narratives over two floors, starting with the Artist gallery on the ground floor and continuing with the Mediterranean, Europe and Empire galleries upstairs. The visit begins with objects from the Neolithic, Punic, Roman, Arab and early medieval periods, followed by Renaissance works that reached Malta through Sicily.

The arrival of the Order of St John in 1530 begins a Baroque chapter that dominates the galleries, with works by Filippo Paladini, Mattia Preti, Guido Reni, Valentin de Boulogne, Jusepe de Ribera, Melchiorre Cafà, Antoine Favray and Giuseppe Grech. The museum then follows Maltese art through the British period to independence in 1964. The collection also includes sculpture, furniture, silver, ceramics, jewellery, works on paper and video art.

Highlights

• Baroque paintings by Mattia Preti, Guido Reni, Ribera and Valentin de Boulogne
• Four thematic galleries on two floors: Artist, Mediterranean, Europe and Empire
• Late 16th-century Auberge d’Italie with a contemporary glass staircase
• Furniture, silver, ceramics and works on paper from Malta’s national collection
• Restaurant within the museum’s public space

Permanent exhibition

• Permanent exhibition – Four galleries on two floors – Artist, Mediterranean, Europe and Empire – tracing Maltese art from antiquity to independence.

Founded

2018

Operated by

Heritage Malta

Admission & discounts

Heritage Malta members and passport holders enter free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All galleries are accessible to visitors with mobility impairments: a panoramic lift next to the glass staircase serves the first floor, and a platform lift and a passenger lift connect the split levels of the first-floor galleries. The main entrance has two steps, and an alternative entrance from Piazza de La Vallette has a ramp. There are accessible restrooms with nappy changing facilities. Service dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Lifts serve all floors for pushchairs, and nappy changing facilities are in the ground-floor restrooms. The gift shop stocks colouring books and puzzles for children.

Getting there & parking

Electric city cabs, taxis, Hop-on Hop-off buses and tourist trains also serve Valletta.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Gift shop with art books, postcards and items for children. A locker room is next to the Camerone Hall. The museum restaurant in the public space stays open beyond museum hours.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit