Valletta - National Museum of Archeology

 
On Republic Street, at the intersection with Britannia Street, is the National Museum of Archeology, with a collection which is unique in the world.

It is housed in the former Auberge de Provence, an imposing building erected by Gerolama Cassar in 1571.

The most notable exhibits are in the prehistoric section, which contains all the material recovered from the Neolithic temples of the Maltese Islands 6,000-7,000 year-old pottery, ornaments, altars, limestone statuettes, terracottas, cult utensils, etc., from the Ggantija site on Gaza, the cult sites of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Hal Tarxien and the Hypogaeum.

Must-see attractions nearby:
One room contains interesting models of the five best preserved temples. Other sections are devoted to Phoenician, Punic, Roman and Arab material and to the Order of St John.

The headless "fat" statues of the supposed deities are on display here, and there are also three-dimensional models of the prehistoric sites in Malta and Gozo (the oldest free-standing monuments in the world).

Displays begin on the ground floor with Roman anchors, the largest of which weighs over three tons and was discovered off Bugibba in 1963.

As a starting point for a tour use the central limestone altar from Hagar Qim.
Address: Valletta - National Museum of Archeology, Auberge de Provence
Republic Street, Valletta , Malta
Tips: Due to restoration work only some parts of the museum are open to the public.

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