The Grand Master's Palace (Part2)

Gerald Fenech takes a look at some of the exquisite room in The President’s Palace in Valletta – another jewel in the crown amongst Malta’s abundantly rich heritage Last month we discussed the lovely courtyards in the Palace and now it is the turn of some of the stately rooms and corridors which surely are hugely interesting for those who enjoy spending time in such a beautiful monument.

The Entrance Corridor

This stately corridor lies at right angles to the Armoury Corridor with its walls and ceiling embellished and decorated by precious baroque and rococo works of art. One finds stately portraits of Grand Masters Manoel de Vilhena, Ferdinand von Hompesch, Manuel Pinto and Francisco Ximenes de Texada. The paintings depict naval victories of the Order against Muslim shipping.

The State Dining Room

This sumptuous room once used to host the stately dinners and banquets held by the Order. The ceiling is painted white and gold with gilt pedants in the squares. Today it is chiefly memorable for the numerous large portraits of Maltese Heads of State.

The Hall of the Supreme Council or The Hall of St Michael and St George

This hall had its name changed in the early 19th century when King George IV instituted the Order of St Michael and St George in 1818. In the Order’s time, this hall was used for functions and its highlights are definitely the colourful frescoes carried out by the Italian painter Matteo Perez d’Aleccio. These frescoes depict the various phases of the Great Siege of 1565 and amongst the events they portray, one finds the attack on Fort St Elmo, the arrival of the Piccolo Soccorso and the flight of the Ottoman forces from the island. The hall also suffered several alterations over the years, most notably during the British period. It also witnessed Malta’s declaration of a Republic in 1974.

The Ambassador’s Room

This hall was most likely the place where foreign envoys presented their credentials to the Grand Masters. Again we have paintings by Perez d’Aleccio depicting several important episodes in the history of the Order. These include the arrival at Limassol in 1291 and the Departure from Rhodes in 1522. There are also a number of interesting portraits of Kings such as Louis XIV, XV and XVI as well as Empress Catherine of Russia. The room is also known as the Red Room due to its walls being covered in red damask brocade.