Restoration work on the main façade of the Auberge de Castille has been completed, marking a milestone in a project taken in hand in 2009 and now running more than a year behind schedule.

Workers have taking down the last remaining scaffolding and the focus now is on the St Paul Street side of the historic building. The façade facing Merchants' Street was the first to have been taken in hand. 

The building was given its flamboyant Baroque style when it was remodelled in the eighteenth century, having originally been a smaller structure fronting St Paul Street. It was seen as an expression of power and prestige, exalting Grand Master Pinto, whose symbol, the crescent moon, is displayed throughout the building. A bust of the Grand Master is seen above the main door.

The building suffered the ravages of time, particularly the intense sun, the sea air as well as contamination from emissions from traffic and the Marsa power station, causing sculptured decorations to crumble and the façades to be blackened with grime. The building was also hit by a bomb in the second world war, although the façades were not demolished.