Grandmaster's Palace (Valletta)
| Grandmaster's Palace | |
|---|---|
| Il-Palazz tal-Granmastru | |
 Grandmaster's Palace | |
| Former names |
Magisterial Palace Governor's Palace |
| Alternative names | The Palace |
| General information | |
| Status | Intact |
| Type | Palace |
| Architectural style | Mannerist |
| Location | Valletta, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°53′55.1″N 14°30′50.7″E / 35.898639°N 14.514083°E |
| Construction started | 1569 |
| Completed | 18th century |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone |
| Website | |
| President of Malta | |
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 in the 16th century as the palace of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, who ruled Malta, and was also known as the Magisterial Palace (Maltese: Palazz Maġisterjali). It eventually became the Governor's Palace (Maltese: Palazz tal-Gvernatur), and it currently houses the Office of the President of Malta. Parts of the palace, including the State Rooms and the Palace Armoury, are open to the public as a museum run by Heritage Malta.
Location
The Grandmaster's Palace occupies a city block in the centre of Valletta, and it is the largest palace in the city.[1] Its façade is located opposite the Main Guard in St. George's Square (Maltese: Misraħ San Ġorġ) along Republic Street (Maltese: Triq ir-Repubblika).[2] The palace is also bounded by Archbishop Street (Maltese: Triq l-Arċisqof), Old Theatre Street (Maltese: Triq it-Teatru l-Antik) and Merchants Street (Maltese: Triq il-Merkanti).
History
The Grandmaster's Palace was originally built in 1569, as the palace of Eustachio del Monte. It was purchased by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière in the 1570s, and was enlarged into his own residence by the architect Girolamo Cassar.[3] It was further enlarged and embellished by successive Grand Masters, and its present configuration dates back to around the mid-18th century. In the 1770s, traveller Patrick Brydone noted that:[4]
the Grand Master (who studies conveniency more than magnificence) is more comfortably and commodiously, lodged than any prince in Europe, the King of Sardenia perhaps only excepted.
In 1800, Malta was taken over by Britain, and the island eventually became a crown colony. The Grandmaster's Palace became the official residence of the Governor of Malta, and it became known as the Governor's Palace.[5]
In the 1840s, a semaphore station was installed on the palace.[6]
The palace's Tapestry Hall became the meeting place of the Parliament of Malta in 1921, and it continued to serve as such until 1976, when the parliament moved in the former armoury, also within the palace. The House of Representatives moved out of the Grandmaster's Palace to the purpose-built Parliament House on 4 May 2015.[7]
The palace was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.[8] It is now a Grade 1 national monument, and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[3]
Architecture
The Grandmaster's Palace was originally built with Mannerist characteristics typical of its architect Girolamo Cassar.[9] Its façade is simple but severe, and is characterized by two large doorways and long wooden balconies at each corner. The balconies and doorways did not form part of the original palace, but were later additions.[3] Apart from the two entrances in St. George's Square, there is a third entrance from Piazza Regina (Republic Square) just west of the National Library.
The palace is built around two courtyards, one of which is dominated by a statue of Neptune. The entrance to the state rooms is in the Neptune Courtyard via a spiral staircase. The ceiling of this entrance was painted by Nicolau Nasoni in 1724.[3]
Palace Armoury
The Armoury, which houses one of the finest collections of weapons of the period of the Knights of Malta, runs the width of the back of the palace. Spears, swords, shields, heavy armour and other weapons are on display. It contains only a fraction of its original splendour due to the "organised robbery of art treasure and historic treasures"[10] during the French occupation of Malta in 1798. Despite this, it still contains material of European origin and even some captured Ottoman weaponry. Examples include parade armour of various Grand Masters including Jean Parisot de Valette and Alof de Wignacourt, and Dragut's own sword.
Throne Room
The Throne Room, originally known as the Supreme Council Hall (Sala del Maggior Consiglio) was built during the reign of Grandmaster Jean de la Cassière. It was used by successive Grandmasters to host ambassadors and visiting high ranking dignitaries. During the British administration it became known as the Hall of Saint Michael and Saint George after the Order of St Michael and St George which was founded in 1818 in Malta and the Ionian Islands. It is currently used for state functions held by the President of Malta.
The cycle of wall paintings decorating the upper part of the hall are the work Matteo Perez d'Aleccio and represent various episodes of the Great Siege of Malta. The coat-of-arms of Grand Master Jean de Valette on the wall recess behind the minstrels gallery was painted by Giuseppe Calì.
In 1818, the British transformed this hall by completely covering the walls with neo-classical architectural features designed by Lieutenant-Colonel George Whitmore. These were removed in the early 20th century. The minstrel's gallery is thought to have been relocated to this hall from the palace chapel which was probably its original location. Of particular interest is the original coffered ceiling and the late 18th century-style chandeliers.
Ghost story
The palace is supposedly haunted by a ghost in the form of a large cat. The ghost was seen by an English lady, and it jumped through a window before vanishing.[11]
Further reading
- C. Saliba, Paul (2008), "New evidence on the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta".
References
- ↑ Gauci, Joseph (19 January 2009). "Brief history of Palazzo Ferreria". Times of Malta. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ↑ "The Main Guard and the Chancellery - Valletta" (PDF). Maltese Newsletter (62): 12. 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "Grandmaster Palace" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ↑ "Grandmaster's Palace". Location Malta. Archived from the original on 4 October 2010.
- ↑ "Il-Palazz tal-Belt". Office of the President of Malta (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 26 September 2015.
- ↑ "Semaphore Tower". Għargħur Local Council. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ↑ "Parliament House inaugurated, holds first sitting: 'A milestone in Malta's parliamentary history' - President". Times of Malta. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
- ↑ "Protection of Antiquities Regulations 21st November, 1932 Government Notice 402 of 1932, as Amended by Government Notices 127 of 1935 and 338 of 1939.". Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016.
- ↑ "History of Valletta". Valletta Local Council. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ↑ Czerwinski, A.; Zygulski, Z. (July 1969). "The Palace Armoury of Valetta" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ↑ "Malta’s most haunted". Times of Malta. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grandmaster's Palace. |
