Grandmaster's Palace

The Grandmaster's Palace — known simply as il-Palazz to the Maltese — is the largest secular building in Valletta, constructed in the 16th century as the official seat of the Knights of St John. For over two centuries the palace served the successive Grand Masters of the Order before passing to British colonial governors and later the Maltese parliament. Its State Rooms are adorned with sweeping narrative murals, marble floors, and dense heraldic ornament; the adjoining Armoury houses one of the most complete collections of medieval knight's armour in Europe, with over 5,000 pieces. Operated today by Heritage Malta, the palace is open to visitors for a fee except during official state functions. Sunlit courtyards shaded by palm trees give way to richly painted corridors, making it as compelling to photograph as it is to study.