The Palace of the Grand Master is located in the city of Valletta, the capital of the island of Malta. This is the largest building of the city and, certainly, one of the most interesting sights - its interiors admire with its majestic beauty. The palace was the residence of the masters of the world's oldest knightly order - the Maltese.
If you do not want to visit the palace and do not know what it looks like, you can easily pass by, strolling through the streets of Valletta. So inconspicuous on the outside seems this famous place. At first glance you might think that the only thing worth paying attention to is the huge size of the building. But this is undoubtedly the deepest mistake.
The first palace of the Grand Master was erected in 1570-1580. made of wood. Over time, the wooden structure was replaced by a stone structure designed by architect Gerolamo Cassar, but he could not complete the palace and was already building another architect - Italian Francesco Laparelli. The painting and decoration of the interior was also done by the Italian - Nicolau Nazoni in 1724
Since 1921, the local parliament has been sitting in the former mansion of the Grand Masters, and since 1976 the President of Malta has made the palace his residence.
What to see
The palace is built of limestone, its shape is rectangular, its dimensions are very impressive: 97 m in length and 83 m in width. By area, it occupies the whole quarter of the city and is considered to be its largest structure. In the very center of the building there are two patios named after Prince Alfred and Neptune
The palace is also famous for its Armory Chamber, in the collection of which more than 6 thousand . exhibits from different epochs and corners of the world: heavy armor, swords, sabers and sabers, pistols and muskets, cannons, daggers and much more . You can see and armor that were forged specially for the Grand Masters, there is a hall , in which a natural magnifier well represented equipped knights "without fear and reproach" . Impresses and luxuriously decorated palace rooms with paintings, portraits of Great Masters and old tapestries . In one of the halls you can see a portrait of the Russian Empress Catherine II, which was presented by the queen to the knights of the Order as a token of the highest mercy .
Coordinates
The Palace is located at: Il-Belt Valletta
The museum works 10: 00-16: 00, Sunday is the day off
| Palace of the Grand Master |
| Courtyard, Palace of the Grand Master |
| Armory Corridor, Grand Master's Palace |
| Pushki, Grand Master's Palace |
| Painting, Palace of the Grand Master |