Nine new halls open at the Grand Master’s Palace

Press Release│ 11 June 2025

Visitors to the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta now have access to nine new halls that have never been open to the public. With the inauguration of these state rooms, the public experience at Heritage Malta’s most popular site will be further enhanced.

An official ceremony held at the Piano Nobile of the Palace marked the opening of these newly accessible spaces, which have undergone extensive restoration. This included works on the decorated wooden ceilings, frescoes and paintings, damask and painted wall coverings, as well as flooring made of both marble and flagstones.

These rooms formed part of the Grand Master’s summer apartment, among them the Drawing Room and the Study, the Bedroom and the Chapel. The Cabinetto di Curiosità, the Conventual Chaplain’s Room, and the Treasury Office were also opened, along with three other halls now hosting thematic exhibitions focusing on different chapters in the Palace’s history: the French period, the Order of St Michael and St George, and the Maltese Parliament, which until a few years ago was convened in this very building.

Many of the spaces in question include furniture and artefacts from the 16th to 18th centuries, donated to the agency earlier this year by local collector Mr Paul Zammit as part of a generous donation in memory of his parents. This was one of the largest and finest donations the national collection has ever received since the establishment of the Museum’s Administration Committee in 1903.

The Grand Master’s Palace was reopened to the public in January 2024, following the completion of the restoration project’s first phase. The project entails an investment of more than €40 million by the Government of Malta, €18 million of which are co-financed by the European Union as part of the European Regional Development Fund.

Addressing those present, Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, the President of Malta, acknowledged the great efforts of all those who worked so that these halls could be opened to the public. The President of Malta also mentioned Mr Paul Zammit’s donation, describing it as an invaluable act which will allow artefacts from the epoch to continue to be appreciated by future generations. She encouraged collectors and owners of similar artefacts to follow his example and donate such objects so that they may be appreciated more widely, be they paintings, furniture or even manuscripts and rare publications that can strengthen Malta’ National Archives and Library.

Prime Minister Robert Abela noted the strong investment being made in the national heritage, which gives an identity to our country. He remarked that this is done through both national and European funds. He said that through this investment, the government is restoring and conserving historical landmark sites such as the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta and Villa Guardamangia.

Dr Abela explained that the Palace in Valletta is an iconic place which continues to attract not only numerous tourists but also many children and elderly persons through Heritage Malta’s passport scheme. He said that through this initiative, last year more than fifty thousand children and elderly people visited Heritage Malta’s historical sites – an increase of seven thousand over the previous year. In his address, the Prime Minister also thanked Paul Zammit and said that the State is grateful to persons like him for their invaluable donations.

In his speech, Dr Owen Bonnici, Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, said: “We have continued to invest in our cultural heritage, as the Grand Master’s Palace – a gem in the heart of Valletta – not only opened its doors for people to discover its majesty and history, but we have made sure to enhance the experience. From the time of the Knights to modern Malta, this Palace forms part of the core of our identity.

“With an investment of 40 million euro, we have given this Palace the dignity it deserves so that it can be better enjoyed by both Maltese and tourists. Today we are inaugurating nine new halls to further enhance this experience and enjoy the Palace better than ever. Thanks to all  Heritage Malta employees and to all those who worked to make this a reality,” Minister Bonnici concluded.

Dr Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Minister for European Funds and Implementation of the Electoral Programme, emphasized the importance of a wise use of European funds in projects that preserve the historical heritage of our country and make it more accessible. “This project reflects how European funds can contribute to initiatives that give more value to our cultural identity and offer new high-quality experiences for both the Maltese and the tourists who visit this place,” said the Minister.

Mr Mario Cutajar, Heritage Malta’s Chairman, said that: “The Palace’s significance for the country goes beyond its symbolism of authority for hundreds of years. It is also the very embodiment of our country’s history since the Great Siege. Every investment in it is an investment in history. As the agency entrusted with the protection of Maltese heritage, we must especially explain and convey the relationship between the decisions taken here and the people out there, who have over the years gathered in the square in front of it, for various reasons. The collections we find in our museums are the tools to achieve this, and strong donations such as Mr Paul Zammit’s help us greatly in our mission.”

Mr Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer, commented that: “In these past years, Heritage Malta has worked relentlessly to return to the palace artefacts that were formerly within it. We have also bought artefacts that deserve to be in this palace, some of which had even been sold from it centuries ago. This work, which is still ongoing, is bearing the desired fruit, as the Palace is at the top of Heritage Malta’s list of the most visited sites, and the figures show considerable increases.”