Palazzo Vilhena Mdina - The Best Mobile Map and Guide Tool if you visit Malta!

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Palazzo Vilhena
National Museum of Natural History / Palazzo Vilhena

The main purpose of the museum is to collect and preserve local historicaal flora and fauna.
Shown are local geology and paleontology, exotic mammals, human evolution, seacrops, shells, insects and birds. Using dioramas, different Maltese residential areas are shown, like local cliff dwelling areas of birds, traditional rubble walls and the diversity of animals which visit the valleys of the islands.

The L. Mizzi Hall is dedicated to minerals and only shows 850 pieces of stone and minerals and is a small part of the extensive collection of Lewis Mizzi. Attention is also paid to the use of raw materials in artworks and jewelry.
The museum also pays attention to the ecological importance of the islands Filfla, Fungus Rock, St. Paul’s Island and Comino. One can also find a large collection of birds and the largest squid which was caught in the Maltese waters.

Besides the impressive baroque style of the palace and the unique characteristics and details, the museum shows the various aspects of the wildlife of Malta, displays about geology and paleontology, squid and additionally also an exhibition about the Maltese waters and collections of birds, minerals and rocks.

HISTORY

Palazzo Vilhena is a Magistral palace, built by a Grand Master of the Order of St John, Manoel de Vilhena, between 1726 and 1728 and functioned as his summer palace. It was designed by the French architect Charles François de Mondion, who was the main architect of the reconstruction of Mdina after the earthquake of 1693.
The building is a prime example of French baroque. A previous Grandmaster, Philipe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam had already modified part of the palace for his own use, from the remains of the mediaeval castle Castellu di la Chitati, during the 1530s. This was built on the former site of the Palazzo Giuratale, which housed the Università, the local government of the old nobility of Mdina.
The area of the Palazzo Vilhena was already inhabited in the Bronze Age.  After the era of the Order of St John, the palace had a number of functions.  It was a hospital during the cholera outbreak of 1837, and after that it became a sanatorium for the British military.
Until 1956 it was known as the Connaught Hospital, after Prince Arthur, Duke of Connought and Strathearn.
At present, since 1973, it is the National Museum of Natural History, and is managed by Heritage Malta.

Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday
9:00 - 17:00
Last admission
Advice 30 minutes before closing
Closed
Ticket / admission fee

Adults (18-59 yrs)
€ 5.00
Children (12-17 yrs)
€ 3.50
Infants (1-5 yrs)Free
Students
€ 3.50
Seniors Citizens (60+)
€ 3.50
Concessions
€ 3.550
Address and street / location can be found on our map, click on Guide in the menu bar and you will get a map with markers.
Latest news and original website of the attraction / spot / advent
Additional information

This Palazzo Vihena page is part of “The Malta Magazine”.

This magazine is for every resident and visitor to the country of Malta. But is also educational and for anyone interested in Malta.  The Malta Magazine highlights the past and present of specific subjects and/or places of interest with the help of extensive information and photos.

As a tool during your journey of discovery through Malta, you can use our information services free of charge. You can do this in two ways, via our website https://maltaguide.pro or our app depending on your operating system, Google Play or Apple Store. Both give you the same information.

“The Malta magazine” is the best, ultimate and most comprehensive magazine you can get of Malta.

The magazine is growing fast and will soon contain more than 350 interesting topics.

Find and discover interesting sights and discover the many historical secrets of the country Malta. Find all things to do and places of interest in your exploration.

“The Malta magazine” is also convenient whether you are walking, driving a car, or using the hop-on and hop-off bus trip, boat trip, etc.

“The Malta magazine” provides you with general information about the sights, Malta’s beauty, secrets, history and culture, its architecture, fortifications, etcetera and specific information as: what took place here?; When was it built and by whom?; What are the functions of all these.

“The Malta magazine” describes also religious subjects, museums, parks, places of interest, public toilets and much more useful information. Interesting texts set up by local experts and additional informative photos make this app distinctive.

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In this "Malta Magazine" you will find the location, address, opening hours and admission / entrance fee, general additional information and news about the spot.

Everything in “The Malta magazine” is easy to operate, without any knowledge and suitable for young and old.

“The Malta magazine” is free while you normally would pay for a guided tour, you may enjoy navigating through Malta on your own terms.

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The skillfielly texts are written by local experts and additional informative photos make  “The Malta magazine” information provision distinctive.
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