MUZA, the Maltese acronym for the National Community Art Museum, is housed in the Auberge d'Italie, one of the finest surviving auberges of the Knights of St John. The collection spans Maltese art from the medieval period to the 20th century, with particular strength in Baroque painting, Knights-era portraiture, and 19th-century Romantic canvases. There are also works by Mattia Preti, who painted the ceiling vault of St John's Co-Cathedral, and a selection of Caravaggio-influenced Maltese painters from the 17th century.
The museum underwent a major reorganisation and reopened in 2018 for the Capital of Culture year. The presentation is thoughtful and the building itself — with its restored courtyard — is worth seeing. The museum sits on Merchants Street, making it easy to combine with the covered market and a walk along the lower grid.