The 16th century monument has withstood the test of time.
Located smack in the middle of Valletta, the Grand Master’s Palace has seen it all. The 16th-century building occupies an entire city block, with its facade facing the prestigious St George’s Square.
Early roots
The Palace was one of the first buildings to be built in the new city of Valletta founded by Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Valette in 1566, just a few months after their victory in the Great Siege of 1565 against the Ottoman Empire. It was built according to the Mannerist designs of Glormo Cassar, and was eventually enlarged to serve as the official residence of the Grand Masters. It was later modified and embellished in the Baroque style by subsequent Grand Masters, not to mention the extensive and absolutely stunning decoration done on the ceiling of the main corridors by Nicolau Nasoni in 1724.
British rule
During the British period, the Grand Master’s Palace became known as the Governor’s Palace, becoming the official residence of the Governor. It was during this time that the kitchen that served the Grand Master was converted into an Anglican chapel and guards were posted outside the main entrance.
The Palace suffered considerable damage as a result of the Second World War, especially the Palace Armoury. Restoration works were implemented after the heavy 1942 air-raids, and the Palace was restored to its former glory. It was also the seat of the first constitutional parliament from 1921, and it became the Republic’s parliament in 1964 up to 2015.
The stunning interior
State Rooms
The State Rooms are probably the most impressive rooms in the whole palace, even in their heyday. The State Rooms are comprised of the Throne Room (formerly known as the Supreme Council Hall), the Tapestry Hall, the State Dining Hall, the Ambassador’s Room and the Page’s Waiting Room.
The rooms were used by Jean de la Cassiere, the Grand Master who commissioned the building, and his successors, to host ambassadors and visiting dignitaries. The walls are lined with magnificent paintings, including all the work of Matteo Perez d’Aleccio, representing various episodes of the Great Siege. In 1818, the British transformed this hall completely by covering the walls with neo-classical architectural features, but these were removed in the early 20th century.
Armoury
The Palace Armoury was a large hall at the end of the palace and was used to store the Knights’ armoury. The arms collection found here is considered to be one of “the most valuable historic monuments of European culture,” despite the fact that only 5,000 suits remain of the original 25,000. It is recorded that when a Knight died, his armoury became the property of the Order and stored in this hall.
Some of the most interesting pieces are the breastplate worn by la Valette, the beautifully damascened (steel inlaid with gold) suit made for Alof de Wignacourt, the captured Turkish Sipahi (cavalry) armour, and a reinforced armour with bullet marks (remember, the development of guns marked the beginning of the end for armour).
Courtyards
The Palace has not one, but two courtyards known as Neptune’s Courtyard and Prince Alfred’s Courtyard. Neptune’s Courtyard contains a Statue of Neptune, and various coats of arms line one of its walls.
Prince Alfred’s Courtyard is adorned with a clock tower designed by Gaetano Vella. Local tradition states that the clock is much older than it actually claims to be, and was possibly brought over to the Islands from Rhodes during the Order’s rule. This is a mystery that has been unsolved to this day.
Recent years
Up to 2015, the Grand Master's Palace was the seat of Malta’s parliament until it was moved to the new Parliament building near City Gate and it is still the seat of the Office of the President of Malta. The Palace has the only complete and intact set of famous 18th century French Gobelins tapestries, titled Les Teintures des Indes, in the world. They’re pretty impressive! There’s also the most comprehensive visual narration of the 1565 Great Siege by Matteo Perez d’Aleccio.
The 400-year-old space has weathered the political demands and the likes of the Knights, British Governors and Presidents of the Republic. The museum dating back centuries is open to the public and falls under the auspices of Heritage Malta and has been qualified as a Grade 1 national monument.
Such a stunning place isn't it?