Grandmaster's Palace

The palace occupies two floors and wraps around two courtyards, one dedicated to Neptune with statues and another named after Prince Alfred, where a clock tower rises above the paving. The rooms radiate from these open-air spaces, linking residential quarters with administrative wings.

Girolamo Cassar began construction in 1574, incorporating the earlier house of knight Eustachio del Monte from 1569 into the new structure. The complex served as the seat of the Grand Masters of the Order of St. John and became the Governor's residence after the British arrived in the early 1800s.

Frescos by Matteo Perez d'Aleccio illustrate the Great Siege in vivid detail across several chambers, showing soldiers and ships in action. Visitors walk through rooms where the Knights of St. John once governed the island, and the layout still reflects that administrative tradition.

The State Rooms open daily for visitors, while sections continue to function as the office of the President of Malta. The entrance sits on a main street in central Valletta, and the tour route leads through multiple halls across both floors.

The armoury preserves an extensive collection of Italian, German, French, Spanish, and Islamic armor and weapons within the original building section. The exhibits range from helmets and swords to complete suits of plate armor, documenting the daily military life of the knights.

Location: Valletta

Architects: Girolamo Cassar

Official opening: 1574

Architectural style: mannerism

Floors above the ground: 2

GPS coordinates: 35.89883,14.51406

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27