The Palais de Vilaine, also called the Magisterial Palace by locals, is built in the French Baroque style. It is named after the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, Antoine Manuel de Vilaine, who was its first master. The palace was erected between 1726 and 1728 by the architect Charles François de Mondion on the site of the old local council building.
Interestingly, the site where the palace now stands has not been empty since the Punic era. In the Byzantine period there was a fort here, later rebuilt into a well fortified castle, known in the Middle Ages as Castella di la Shitati. The inner walls of the castle were demolished in the 15th century, while the outer walls became the basis for the palace of Grand Master Philip Villiers de Lil Adam in the 30s of the 16th century. The palace in those days was called Palazzo Giuratale. It was occupied by the city council of Mdina, which was called the University. The building was badly damaged in the earthquake of 1693. Finally, Grand Master Villena set about rebuilding the buildings of Mdina. The City Gate was rebuilt and the city council building was demolished. In this place and the Vilena Palace appeared.
In the 19th and 20th centuries it was used as a hospital. Only in the 1890s it temporarily housed barracks. From 1909 the building was known as Connaught Hospital, where tuberculosis patients were treated. It was opened by King Edward VII. Since 1973 it has been home to the National Museum of Natural History. Its collection consists of specimens of flora and fauna, rocks, minerals found in Malta and fossilised animal remains. A diorama of the nature of Malta can also be seen here.
