Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici visited the rehabilitation and restoration works which are being carried out on Admiralty House, which housed the former Fine Arts Museum prior to its migration to MUZA’s Auberge d’Italie. Admiralty House will host the Attorney General and the State Attorney’s offices on separate floors once works are completed. Works are being carried out by the Restoration Directorate, which falls under the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government.
“This project will see to the rehabilitation of one of the oldest buildings in our capital city, which will be serving as the location of two important offices for the justice sector,” said Minister Bonnici during his visit. “As a Government, we are committed to keep on strengthening our local heritage, as this forms part of our identity as a nation and through such works, not only are we housing two important offices, but we’re also preserving a historic building for future generations,” Bonnici continued.
The relocation of the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the State Attorney to Admiralty House is also part of a seperate project which will see the Grandmaster's Palace fully rennovated and given back to the public.
The works on Admiralty House include the restoration of both façades of the building, the restoration of ceiling paintings, original apertures and other historic elements within the building, the installation of mechanical and electrical services to offer the comfort and commodities of modern offices, all finishing works and furniture.
The building is a 17th century palazzo with two floors and a basement level, with an impressive grand staircase leading to the piano nobile. The palazzo was one of the earliest to be built in Valletta and was originally a residence of several knights. By the 1820s the palace became known as Admiralty House and was the seat of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Mediterranean Fleet until 1961. The palazzo was then inaugurated as the National Museum of Fine Arts in 1974.
The project is envisaged to be ready by the first quarter of next year, with an investment of €4,351,313.