Grandmaster's Palace

The Grandmaster's Palace is a palace in Valletta, Malta, currently housing the House of Representatives of Malta and the office of the President of Malta.

History

The site had been previously occupied by Eustachio del Monte, a nephew of the La Valette. The Knights of Malta bought the house commissioned Gerolamo Cassar to design the palace. he 18th-century traveller, Patrick Brydone, noted that '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' [http://www.locationmalta.com/attractions/grandmaster.html] .

The palace is built around two courtyards, one of which is predominated by a statue of Neptune. There are two entrances in the front and one entrance from Piazza Regina just west of the Bibliotecha. 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.

The Armoury, housing one of the finest collections of weapons of the period of the Knights of Malta in all of Europe, runs the width of the back of the palace. Spears, swords, shields, heavy armour and other weapons, including Dragut's sword are on display.

The walls here are hung with stunning Gobelin tapestries, featuring tropical scenes set in South America, the Caribbean, India and Africa. The tapestries, though nearly three centuries old, look as good as new, and were given to the Order by Grand Master Ramon Perellos in 1710.

Of all the rooms the most magnificent is the Hall of St Michael and St George, also known as the Throne Room, decorated with a cycle of 12 frescos, vividly portraying the 1565 Siege of Malta. The artist was Matteo Perez d'Aleccio, an engraver and painter who once helped Michelangelo with the Sistine Chapel.

The Hall of the Ambassadors was originally the Grand Master's audience chamber. Known also as the Red Room, this is decorated in crimson with Louis XV furniture and a high frieze recalling episodes from the early history of the Order when it still had bases in Jerusalem, Cyprus and Rhodes.

Leading off the Hall of St Michael and St George, the State Dining Room has magnificent 17th-century chandeliers and portraits of British monarchs, from King George III to Queen Elizabeth II.

References

* [http://www.maltagozo.com/valletta.html VALLETTA - A United Nations UNESCO World Heritage City]

Coordinates: coord|35|53|55.8|N|14|30|50.6|E|type:landmark