Early this morning, a boundary wall at the historic San Anton Palace collapsed within the parking area used by the President’s staff, and while luckily no one seems to have been injured, a number of cars did sustain some damage. 

It is unclear what caused the collapse of the centuries-old wall, which was being restored over the summer, but a statement issued by the Office of the President stated that the Restoration Directorate is “looking into the technical side of the matter.”

As a result, the historic gardens attached to San Anton Palace, which have been open to the public since 1882 and make for a delightful stroll, have been closed off as a safety precaution.

San Anton Palace was originally built in the 17^th century as a country villa for Antoine de Paule, a knight of the Order of St John. It was later expanded into a palace following de Paule’s election as Grandmaster in 1623. Officially, it has been the residence of the President of Malta since 1974. Here's hoping the gardens will be re-opened for all to enjoy soon!