The Grand Master’s Palace is one of Valletta’s most iconic historic landmarks. Built soon after the founding of Valletta by the Knights of St John, it became the official residence of the Grand Masters and a symbol of power in the Mediterranean. The palace showcases lavish state rooms decorated with Baroque illusionistic ceilings, grand frescoes, and heraldic floors, including the Throne Room and ambassadors’ chambers. The Armoury houses one of the richest collections of medieval and early modern weapons and armour anywhere in the world, featuring suits of armour, swords, muskets, cannons, and artefacts from the Knights’ centuries of military history. During British rule, the palace served as the governor’s residence and later hosted Malta’s first constitutional parliament. Today, it is partly a museum under Heritage Malta while continuing to serve as the seat of the President of Malta, so access to certain rooms can occasionally be limited due to official functions.
