MUŻA - The National Community Art Museum
About This Museum
You know how everyone comes to Malta for the sun and history? Well, MUŻA is where that history gets a serious splash of color. It's not your typical hushed, overwhelming museum; it feels more like you're wandering through the grand, airy home of a very artistic friend who happens to live in a 250-year-old palace. I was completely captivated by the way they've arranged everything—rooms are themed around ideas like 'The Mediterranean' rather than just dates, making the journey from dramatic Baroque paintings to modern Maltese works feel totally seamless. Honestly, it’s one of the most thoughtfully presented collections I’ve ever seen.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss Mattia Preti's intense, shadowy Baroque canvases—they were made for these very walls. Then, suddenly you turn a corner and find these bright, almost abstract landscapes by modern artists like Willie Apap, which give you a whole new perspective on the islands.
Visitor Information
It's brilliantly located right on Merchants Street in Valletta, so after you're done, you can just pop outside and continue exploring. It's also part of the Valletta city gate project, so the building itself is a huge part of the modern story.
Architecture & Building
The museum is housed in the Auberge d'Italie, a stunning Knights-era palace from the 1760s with those classic high ceilings, grand staircases, and beautiful stonework that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time.
