Set the scene.
Work on the Order of St John’s Sacra Infermeria began in 1574. Its wards expanded over time, making the Valletta hospital a major building for the care of the sick.
Here’s the twist.
In 1676, Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner founded a School of Anatomy and Surgery there. The site connected medical treatment with the teaching of practical knowledge.
Why it still matters.
After later damage and changes of use, restoration transformed the building into the Mediterranean Conference Centre, inaugurated in 1979. The long halls survived by adapting: a new function helped give an older structure a continuing life.
🧠 One to think about +
What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.
