Museums Archives ⋆ Page 12 of 30 ⋆ The Passenger

November 22, 2021January 30, 2022

St. Elmo

A fortification at the sea, a national war museum, but most important: a place where important Maltese history has happened. The Fort St. Elmo sits at the end of the headland on which Valletta was built, between the entrance to the Grand Harbour and the Marsamxett Harbour. The fortification was built by the Knights Hospitaller but the location wasn’t perfect: when the Osmans attacked in 1565 they could enter the northern harbor and they attacked St. Elmo from the opposite side of the bay as well as from the higher areas of the headland.

November 22, 2021January 30, 2022

Sleeping lady

She is one of the Maltese national treasures: the sleeping lady. The statue was found at the hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni, a neolithic necropolis. It is rather small but more than 4500 years old and seen as the representation of a goddess. Today you can’t visit her at the hypogeum which is nowadays a UNESCO world heritage site (and tickets are extremely hard to get), you can see her at the national museum of archaeology.

November 22, 2021January 30, 2022

MUŻA

In 2018 Valletta (and Leeuwarden) became European Capitals of Culture. This was a good reason to enhance the Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti (MUŻA) that was founded in 1974. It was moved from the Admirality House to the Auberge d’Italie bringing it closer to the parliament and city gate. Today it is located in a beautiful modern building and it’s fun to explore.

October 30, 2021January 24, 2022

Cyprus museum

The Cyprus museum in Λευκωσία is very old-fashioned. You can’t learn much about the Cypriot history, it is rather an archaeologic museum exhibiting statues and ancient jars. It was founded in 1882 and is an important institution as it preserves the ancient findings from the island.

October 30, 2021January 24, 2022

Visual arts

The Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR) is a wonderful museum in the northeast of the Greek part of the old town of Λευκωσία. On multiple levels the CVAR shows drawings and paintings of Cyprus. These depict the island in former days and also express how the country has been seen; especially on posters advertising the ‘colony’ as a vacation paradise.

October 29, 2021January 24, 2022

NiMAC

If you’re into modern and contemporary art you should pay a visit to the NiMAC, Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre. It is located in the old powerhouse of Λευκωσία and already this renovated ancient building is worth dropping in. The rather small museum was opened in 1994 and exhibits works from Cypriot and foreign artists.

October 1, 2021January 9, 2022

Istorie a României

Visiting the national history museum (Muzeul Național de Istorie a României) of București is a bittersweet experience. It is located inside a fantastic, ancient building (the former postal services palace) in the city center (Calea Victoriei) – opposite to the amazing building of CEC Bank. It hosts the Romanian crown juwels and a copy of the Trajan’s column at Roma.

October 1, 2021January 9, 2022

Istorie Naturală

The national history museum (Muzeul Național de Istorie Naturală) of București was already founded in 1834. In 1933 it was named after its director Grigore Antipa by king Carol II. It is a mix of ancient coins, stones, fossils, minerals and artworks connected to natural history of Romania.

October 1, 2021January 9, 2022

Life at the village

Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”, București

The national village museum (Muzeul Național al Satului) of București is an open-air museum founded in 1936. It is named after one of the three founders, Dimitrie Gusti, a professor, and minister of education. On 100,000 m2 you can see more than 250 authentic houses and farms from the different regions of Romania. It is interesting to see the different styles of the buildings which you can discover from the outside and inside.

October 1, 2021January 9, 2022

Attached to the parliament

Muzeul Național de Artă Contemporană, București

Never did I search so hard for the entrance to a museum than in case of the Muzeul Național de Artă Contemporană at București, Romania. It is located inside the giant parliament building (Palatul Parlamentului) which is well-secured and there is only one public entrance which brings you to the museum. But it is the only chance to enter the fantastic yet maniac Ceaușescu building and even if it would be only for the views from the roof terrace it would be worth it.