DK Travel : Malta & Gozo : Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta

Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta

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This handsome palace was built between 1573 and 1578 by the celebrated Maltese architect Gerolamo Cassar (1520–86), who was also responsible for the Co-Cathedral of St John. Today it is the President’s office and seat of the Maltese Parliament, but for more than two hundred years it was the residence of the Grand Master, supreme head of the Order of the Knights of St John. Here, the Grand Master would greet foreign envoys and important guests, and the State Apartments are suitably crammed with reminders of the Order’s fabulous wealth and influence. The palace’s armoury contains a spectacular array of weaponry and armour spanning more two centuries.
The Palace may be closed if Parliament is in session; check with the tourist office in advance. There are numerous cafés in the vicinity. Drop into the elegant wine bar Ambrosia for a delicious light meal. In Jan 2008, Malta abandons the Maltese lira (Lm) and adopts the euro (€). As this book goes to press, Lm1 is equivalent to €2.33.

Top 10 Features

1. Neptune’s Courtyard

1. Neptune’s Courtyard

The impressive statue that gives its name to the main courtyard is attributed to the Flemish-born sculptor Giambologna (1529–1608). It is said that Admiral Andrea Doria, a friend of Grand Master de la Vallette, volunteered to pose naked for the statue.
2. Corridors of the Knights

2. Corridors of the Knights

On the first floor (the piano nobile) of the palace, lavishly decorated marble corridors overlook Neptune’s Courtyard. They are lined with portraits of the Grand Masters, their coats of arms and suits of armour.
3. Tapestry Chamber

In this elegant room, the senior Knights attended to day-to-day business and, in later years, the Maltese parliament met. It is now lit dimly to preserve the sumptuous Gobelin tapestries.
4. Gobelin Tapestries

4. Gobelin Tapestries

Known as Les Tentures des Indes (the Indies Tapestries), for their depictions of exotic scenes, they were donated in 1710 by Grand Master Perellos.
5. Supreme Council Hall

5. Supreme Council Hall

This is the grandest room in the palace, also known as the Hall of St Michael and St George. It has glittering chandeliers, a coffered ceiling and a stunning frieze which vividly depicts the Great Siege of 1565. The minstrel’s gallery at one end of the hall once decorated the palace chapel, but came originally from the warship Grand Carrack in which the Knights departed from Rhodes.
6. Great Siege Frieze

6. Great Siege Frieze

This dynamic frieze recounting the key events in the Knights’ celebrated defence of the island was painted by Matteo Perez d’Aleccio (1547–1616) between 1575 and 1581.
7. Ambassador’s Room

7. Ambassador’s Room

The Grand Masters used this handsome chamber for private audiences and to impress foreign dignitaries. Matteo Perez d’Aleccio painted the frieze, which represents important moments in the history of the Order of St John.
8. State Dining Hall

Badly damaged by aerial bombardment during World War II, this beautifully proportioned chamber is lined with portraits of British monarchs and Maltese heads of state.
9. Armoury

9. Armoury

The Palace Armoury, located in the former stables, contains more than 5,000 pieces of military hardware. There are cannons, guns and entire walls lined with evil-looking devices for hacking, spearing and spiking your opponent.
10. Parade Armour

10. Parade Armour

The highlight of the Armoury’s collection is exquisitely decorated parade armour made for the Grand Masters. The most elaborate is a suit made for Grand Master Martino Garzes (1595–61), which has an intricate etched pattern.

Practical Information

The Palace may be closed if Parliament is in session; check with the tourist office in advance. There are numerous cafés in the vicinity. Drop into the elegant wine bar Ambrosia for a delicious light meal. Triq Il-Merkanti 2124 9349 Palace Open 10am–4pm Fri–Wed Adm Lm2 (concessions Lm1, children 50c) Armoury Open 9am–4:30pm daily Adm Lm2 (concessions Lm1, children 50c) www.heritagemalta.org (armoury only)

Reviews

Hicksvera

Valletta Harbour and waterfront A boat trip which takes about two hours around the historical harbour is a must. With its nineteen historical 250-year-old warehouses, built by Grand Master Pinto at the height of the baroque period in Malta … stretching along the water’s edge and the historical Quay Wall where the Knights of St John and European merchants used to unload their wares. There is the Old Power Station that serves as a testimony to the eclectic and heroic history of the Grand Harbour and Forni Stores, dating back to 1626 and constructed by Grand Master de Vilhena . The Valletta Waterfront invites you to discover its complete mix of shops, dining and leisure experiences. When I was there last, a big restoration of these old ware houses was taking place. Both the boat trip and tour around the Warehouses is worth a visit

about 7 months ago

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