The Grandmaster's Palace
The Grandmaster's Palace is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Valletta audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~60 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type palace
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Valletta Valletta guide
About The Grandmaster's Palace
For centuries the Grand Masters ruled Malta from this palace; today it is the Office of the President, with grand State Rooms and one of Europe's great armouries.
The Grandmaster's Palace was begun in 1574 to designs by Girolamo Cassar, incorporating earlier buildings on the site, and served as the residence and seat of the Grand Masters who ruled Malta until 1798. Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca had it extensively remodelled in the 1740s. Under British rule it became the Governor's Palace, and since Malta became a republic in 1974 it has housed the Office of the President.
Its State Rooms include the Throne Room, the Ambassadors' Room and the Tapestry Chamber, decorated with painted friezes and hung with tapestries. The palace also contains the Palace Armoury, one of the largest surviving collections of arms and armour assembled by a single institution, including the parade armour of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt. Malta's Parliament sat here until 2015. Following restoration, the State Rooms reopened to the public in 2024. The palace forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Valletta.
Did you know? The palace still runs the country. It has been the Office of the President since 1974, and Malta's Parliament met inside until 2015, when it moved to a new building by the city gate.
How long should you spend at The Grandmaster's Palace?
Plan about ~60 min at The Grandmaster's Palace. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is The Grandmaster's Palace worth visiting?
The Grandmaster's Palace is one of the 14 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Valletta, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Valletta
Day 1 of the Valletta in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of The Grandmaster's Palace
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