Malta in a square-inch
On 14 June 1532, Grandmaster L’Isle-Adam dispatched a message to the French Ambassador in Rome. This was the first letter ever to be sent from Malta.
The development of postal services was crucial for kingdoms and empires in fifteenth-century Europe and it continued to grow into a natural aspect of city life. The transformations in the service reflect the changing eras of civilisation, and the Malta Postal Museum tells that fascinating story as it unfolds.
The modern museum in Valletta houses an incredible collection of documents and historical objects related to the postal heritage of Malta. Letterboxes painted in the signature bright red, postal bikes in mint condition, love letters and even an authentic postal counter – the museum shows there is much more to the postal service than just stamps.
But there are stamps, too. Lots of them. In fact, the museum boasts Malta’s entire stamp collection from the first stamp issued in 1860 up to the present day. The wonderful display is a collage of creative interpretations of Maltese life through time, literally stringing together one-inch snapshots of the island’s vibrant past and present.
The museum opens weekdays from 10:00 to 16:00 and Saturdays until 14:00.
Getting there
The Malta Postal Museum is just around the corner from the Grand Master’s Palace, at 135 Archbishop’s Street. The most convenient way to Valletta is by bus, visit publictransport.com to check your best routes and timings.