Auberge de Castille
The Auberge de Castille is a historic building in Valletta, Malta, that today houses the Prime Minister's office. The Auberge is situated on Castile Place, near Saint James Cavalier, the Malta Stock Exchange, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, as well as at Valletta's highest point, with views of Floriana and the Grand Harbor area.
It replaced a 1574 edifice established to knight the house of the Order of Saint John from the languages of Castile, León, and Portugal. It was built in the magistrate-style Baroque of Manuel Pinto da Fonseca in the 1740s. The word Castille is commonly used as a metaphor for the Prime Minister and his office, similar to how the White House alludes to the President of the United States' Executive Office. Under the direction of Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, the ancient Auberge de Castille was destroyed and substantially rebuilt in Spanish Baroque style between 1741 and 1744. The new structure was designed by Andrea Belli and constructed under the supervision of Capomastro Domenico Cachia. In 1791, several alterations were made, including the opening of the main door.
The Auberge de Castille is a two-story structure with a rectangular form and a central courtyard built in the Baroque style. Pilasters in the center bays and simple paneling in the outer bays divide the façade into eleven bays. Within recessed panels, ornate windows are placed. The structure features a continuous cornice and rusticated corners. A flight of stairs leads up to the main entrance, which is flanked by columns that carry the arms and bronze bust of Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. Above the bust is a casting window, which is protected by a Pinto symbol. The arms of Castile and León, as well as Portugal, are shown in the middle above the window. Two ancient sutras, presently utilized for adornment, stand right in front of the door.
The Auberge de Castille has been called "perhaps the best building in Malta". Both the exterior and the interior, particularly the elaborate facade and the stairs up to the entryway, are beautifully designed.
