Heritage Malta’s Palace Armoury in Valletta has received the generous donation of Lm15,000 from GasanMamo Insurance through a collaboration agreement signed between the two companies. The sum will be donated over three years and will be used exclusively for the ongoing refurbishment of the Armoury.

While thanking the insurance company for their commitment towards our national heritage, Heritage Malta’s chairman Dr Mario Tabone explained how the donation will most definitely speed up the armoury’s upgrading project.

With its impressive works of art the armoury deserves special attention and, as Dr. Tabone said, Heritage Malta has bigger ambitions for this site that ranks amongst the most valuable historical monuments of European culture.

The agency’s chairman expressed Heritage Malta’s vision to return the armoury to its original location in the Grand Master’s Palace – which currently houses the House of Representatives – and away from the humidity of its current location on the ground floor of the palace.

On top of the to-do list is the installation of large information panels between the showcases that will offer further details on the artefacts. The money will also be used to buy display stands specifically designed to hold arms and armoury. The armoury has already been organised chronologically and equipped with audio guides in six different languages. Part of the funding will also go towards educational programmes, which have been a priority on Heritage Malta’s agenda since its establishment.

Speaking at the signing of the sponsorship agreement at the armoury, GasanMamo’s Managing Director Albert Mamo said that the donation confirmed the company’s corporate social responsibility and its commitment towards Heritage Malta’s mission and towards the preservation of our heritage. As he explained, Malta’s heritage is extremely rich and so demands the support of the private sector.

Opened in 1860 as Malta’s first public museum, the Palace Armoury is one of the world’s greatest arms collections housed in their original building. It comprises a large variety of armour and weapons dating from the 15th century when the Knights still occupied Rhodes and covering some 300 years of armour development until the Order left Malta in the late 18th century.

The armoury prides itself on its military material of Italian, French, German and Spanish origin. By far, the most grandiose with regards to richness of ornament is the magnificent gilded parade armour of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt.

The Palace Armoury is open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Last admission is at 4:30pm.