Grandmaster's Palace | |
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Il-Palazz tal-Granmastru | |
![]() Main façade of the Palace in St. George's Square | |
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Former names | Magisterial Palace Governor's Palace |
Alternative names | The Palace |
General information | |
Status | Intact |
Type | Palace |
Architectural style | Mannerist and Baroque |
Location | Valletta, Malta |
Coordinates | 35°53′55″N 14°30′51″E / 35.89861°N 14.51417°E |
Current tenants | Office of the President of Malta Heritage Malta |
Construction started | 1574[a] |
Renovated | 1740s |
Owner | Government of Malta |
Technical details | |
Material | Limestone |
Floor count | 2 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Girolamo Cassar |
The Grandmaster's Palace (Maltese: Il-Palazz tal-Granmastru), officially known as The Palace (Maltese: Il-Palazz), is a palace in Valletta, Malta. It was built between the 16th and 18th centuries as the palace of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798, and was also known as the Magisterial Palace (Maltese: Palazz Maġisterjali). When the knights were expelled by Napoleonic France, it became the National Palace. During the period of British rule beginning in 1800, it was the Governor's Palace (Maltese: Palazz tal-Gvernatur).
The palace became a British royal residence with various governors representing the monarchy and the queen, and with the royal family itself. As an official royal residence it was often used by British sovereigns for major events during their stay in Malta.
The Palace currently houses the Office of the President of Malta. It was also the seat of the Parliament of Malta from 1921 to 2015. Parts of the building, namely the Palace State Rooms and the Palace Armoury are open to the public as a museum run by Heritage Malta. The building undertook a major restoration project which was then inaugurated on 12 January 2024.[1]
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