The
Wignacourt Collegiate Museum at Rabat Malta was formerly the baroque residence
of the Chaplains of the Knights of St. John.
The
Wignacourt Museum forms part of a Pauline complex as it is materially linked to
St Paul's Grotto, the cradle of Christianity in Malta.
Exterior View
The
building which was fully completed in 1749, is on three levels: the underground
level consists of a labyrinth of Punic, Roman and Christian Hypogea with
interesting architectural features as well as a complex of World War II
shelters with two main corridors and about fifty rooms.
The first
floor is the main exhibition space. It has an impressive picture gallery with
works by Mattia Preti, Antoine Favray, Francesco Zahra and other Maltese as
well as European Artists. It also comprises a collection of 17th- 19th century
Spanish, Italian and Maltese silver; a unique wooden altar used for the
celebration of Mass on the galleys of the Order of the Knights of Malta; a
collection of old relics and reliquaries, sculptures in wood, alabaster and
bronze.
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