Grand Master's Palace and Palace Armoury

The Grand Master's Palace occupies a full block on Palace Square (Misraħ San Ġorġ) on Republic Street in Valletta, Malta. Built from the 1570s as the residence of the Grand Masters of the Order of St John, it later served as the seat of British colonial governors and today houses both the Office of the President of Malta and, in a separate wing, parliamentary functions. Visitors cross the Neptune Courtyard and climb the stairs to long first-floor corridors lined with portraits, ceremonial arms and marble busts. The State Rooms include the Hall of St Michael and St George, the Tapestry Hall hung with Gobelins tapestries known as the 'Teintures des Indes', and rooms with painted friezes depicting episodes from the Order's history, notably the Great Siege of 1565. The Palace Armoury, on the ground floor, is one of the largest surviving collections of arms and armour of the Knights, with suits of plate armour, helmets, swords, early firearms and cannon displayed in the former stables. Armour made for individual Grand Masters, including inlaid and gilded pieces, is among the highlights. The State Rooms are open only when not required for official use, so closures can occur at short notice and a check on heritagemalta.mt before visiting is advisable. A combined visit typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours. The Palace is quietest early in the morning before cruise-ship visitors reach Republic Street, and crowds peak between about 11:00AM and 2:00PM. Photography rules differ by room, so signs and staff instructions should be followed, and flash is not allowed. Palace Square outside also has cafes and a view of the guard on duty, which makes it a convenient meeting point. The palace is a short walk from St John's Co-Cathedral and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, and many visitors combine all three in a morning.