Grand Master’s Palace

Newly restored and proudly dominating St George’s Square in the heart of Valletta, the Grand Master’s Palace invites you to wander along its 450-year history as a centre of power and the symbol of a nation.

The first building to be constructed by the Knights of St John in the new capital city and enlarged over the years, the Palace is a state within an edifice. During the British period, it served as the Governor’s Palace and was the seat of Malta’s first constitutional parliament in 1921. Presently, the Palace is the seat of the Office of the President of Malta.

Now granting access to over eighty-five percent of the building’s footprint, the overhauled Grand Master’s Palace showcases the rediscovered Uccelliera, the Piano Nobile corridors, and the meticulously restored State Rooms, including the Grand Master’s Study/Sitting Room, the Throne Room, Pages’ Room, and the Ambassadors’ Room. 

Among the distinguished collections in the State Rooms, visitors may enjoy the most comprehensive visual narrative of the Great Siege of 1565 painted by Matteo Perez d’Aleccio, and the late 18th century Baroque illusionistic ceiling paintings, which reflect the pageantry and grandeur of the Grand Masters who indulged in imitating the great aristocratic courts of Europe. 

Part of the Palace’s restoration entailed the reinstatement of the historic Armoury in its original hall (the former Parliament Chamber). Showcasing the opulence of the Order of St John – fierce defender of the Catholic faith against the attacks of the Ottoman Empire – the Armoury collection is considered as one of the best in the world, and boasts the armour suits of Grand Masters Alof de Wignacourt and Jean de Valette, Ottoman armour and weapons, as well as a selection of artillery pieces.

The Grand Master’s Palace is the most visited site in Heritage Malta’s portfolio, welcoming around 300,000 visitors each year.

The Grand Master’s Palace restoration project was part-financed via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

On rare occasions, the Grand Master’s Palace may be closed due to state functions. Kindly refer to our social media page Heritage Malta | Il-Kalkara for notifications of closure.

Currently undergoing restoration part-financed via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF),