The Palace Armoury.

The Palace Armoury, Valletta, Malta.

The Armoury
   The Palace Armoury is a showcase of the splendor of the Knights of St. John. Ruling the Maltese Islands from 1530 to 1798, these knights formed a unique brotherhood of determined warrior monks who defended the Catholic faith from the merciless attacks of the Ottoman Turks.
   A visit to the Armoury collection will demonstrate that in that era, armor was more than just a means of protecting the body from injury during battle. It was also a symbol of status and a means of displaying wealth and power. The intricate and richly decorated armor of some knights clearly reflects this.
    It was Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt who brought this magnificent collection of arms and military equipment into being. The collection became the pride of the Order when he moved it to the Magistrates' Palace in 1604. At that time, in addition to being richly decorated with elaborate weapon trophies, it contained enough weapons and armor to arm thousands of soldiers. Following the forced departure of the Order of St. John from the islands, the armoury lost much of its original splendor. The collection was restored after it was restored and displayed in Malta's first public museum in 1860. Although only a fraction of its original splendor remains, the Armoury still contains a wealth of material of Italian, German, French, and Spanish origin from the main production centers.
    Among the most notable artifacts, visitors can see a unique display of armour belonging to Grand Masters Alof de Wignacourt and Jean de La Valette, armour and weapons used by the Ottoman Empire during the Great Siege of 1565, and a selection of artillery pieces.

The museum displays the works of famous masters:

Pompeo della Cesa, Milan, Italy.