A Guided Tour of Verdala Palace
Picture this: a hidden palace, closed to the public, in the middle of the woods. Wouldn’t you love to explore inside? Verdala Palace is not usually open for visitors, so I was very keen to get access through this guided tour organised by FAA.
The tour was organised by Flimkien ghall-Ambjent Ahjar (FAA – which translated to ‘together for a better environment) on Sunday 15th April 2018. The FAA is a non-governmental organisation that acts as a watchdog to safeguard the environment.
This extravagant residence is mysterious from the start, with a gated entrance & driveway (currently dotted with contemporary art work). Visitors will wonder where the palace actually is as the building isn’t visible from the outside. What a lovely surprise to reach it through a stone archway, at the top of a hill looking down towards the surrounding garden and countryside.
Verdala Palace was originally a hunting lodge built around 1550 by Grandmaster de Vallette of the Order of the Knights of St. John. It was later expanded into a spectacular palace by the following grandmasters. The palace has a chequered history, it was used as a military prison during the French blockade of 1798-1800. It was also once the summer residence of British Governors and, curiously, a silk factory. It is currently the official summer residence of the President of Malta.
The palace was designed by a Maltese architect, Girolamo Cassar, who also designed many buildings in Valletta. The building is constructed in a square shape in the Renaissance architectural style. It has two floors with a tower at each corner – the Knights were big on security. The rooms are well proportioned and have high ceilings decorated with really incredible frescoes. A shallow staircase leads to the upper floor by twisting around an oval stairwell with open apertures – stunning!
Vincent, our guide was very engaging and informative, and the 90 minute tour was over in a flash. I wish I could have stayed longer to go round the garden and grounds. It will have to wait for another visit!
Verdala Palace & the Buskett gardens are only 15 minutes away by car from our accommodation in Birkirkara – book now.
Find out about upcoming events organised by the FAA by visiting their events page here.
Photos by Anna Marie Felice