The Wignacourt Museum

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The Wignacourt Museum, located in Rabat, is a must-see for anyone who loves art, Maltese history or both!  Formerly a baroque residence of the Chaplains of the Knights of Malta, it was known as ‘Wignacourt College’.  It was then converted into a museum and inaugurated in 1981.

The Wignacourt Museum was built in 1749, and consists of three interesting and different levels.  On the main floor you can find a remarkable art gallery featuring works by renowned international and local artists including Mattia Preti, Antoine Favray and Francesco Zahra.  On this floor you can also find an impressive collection of artifacts including ones from the church and the Knights of St John.  These include 17th-19th century silver from Spain, Italy and Malta, a historical wooden alter that was used to celebrate mass, sculptures made using wood, alabaster and bronze as well as various historical maps, pottery, coins, and a collection of rare books, including King Henry VIII’s ‘Septum Sacraments’. 

Wignacourt Museum  Air Malta

On the ground floor level you can find a spacious garden where the refectory of the Chaplains of the Order once stood, as well as an oven which was used during the Second World War to provide 2000 loaves daily to the local people of Rabat.  During the war, the building also served as a school, an infirmary and as a centre for social activities.

Wignacourt Museum  Air Malta

The underground levels consist of an interesting complex of Second World War shelters with consist of around 50 rooms leading to an inner courtyard.  This intersects through the catacombs which date back to around 2000 years ago!  Here, you can also find a labyrinth of Punic, Roman and Christian hypogea.  

Wignacourt Museum  Air Malta

The Wignacourt Museum also allows you to go down into St Paul’s Grotto through an underground passage.  St Paul’s Grotto is the place where St Paul the Apostle was believed to have stayed after getting shipwrecked in Malta, and founded the first Christian community in Malta in 60 A.D.  The grotto was under the care of the Church until 1610 and was then entrusted to Juan de Cordova Beneguas, before falling under the hands of the Knights of St John in 1617.  It was not until 1961 that the Wignacourt building was returned to the Church.

The museum is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm.  

Tickets cost:Adults: €5Seniors/students: €3.50Children 7 to 11 years: €2.50Children up to 6 years: Free

Find out more about the museums around Malta.

Author: Sabine Jung 

Sources: http://www.islandofgozo.org/place?id=48&item=wignacourt-museum, http://www.wignacourtmuseum.com/, http://www.rabatlocalcouncil.com/history/wignacourt-museum.html 

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