The palace was constructed on the remains of an earlier hunting lodge used by Grand Master Jean de Valette.
During the Napoleonic occupation, the palace functioned as a temporary military prison.
The structure underwent a major restoration in the 1850s under the governorship of Sir William Reid.
The internal chapel features a vaulted ceiling decorated with original 16th-century paintings.
The building was designed to be easily defensible, incorporating a stone bridge spanning the moat.
The site hosted several notable historical figures including Edward VII of the United Kingdom.
The palace is rarely open to the public except for specific charitable events and state-sanctioned viewings.
Verdala Palace is a 16th-century fortified summer residence built for Grand Master Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle. The structure occupies a site formerly known as Tal-Għaqba within the Buskett Gardens in Siġġiewi. Architect Gerolamo Cassar designed the building as a hunting lodge with defensive features including bastions and a deep moat. It serves as the official summer residence of the President of Malta. The palace architecture features a distinctive rectangular plan with five-story pentagonal towers at each corner. Its interior contains a piano nobile with decorative frescoes and historical artifacts. The surrounding Buskett Gardens were originally developed by the Knights of Malta as a hunting preserve. The palace remains a significant example of late Renaissance military-civil architecture in Malta.
From the elevated trails within Buskett Gardens looking upward toward the palace towers.
Check the official government website for rare public open-day announcements before planning your trip.
Plan to explore the adjacent Buskett Gardens separately, as they offer the best perspective of the palace's exterior.
Carry water and sun protection as there is minimal shade near the immediate palace perimeter.
Do not attempt to access the palace grounds on non-event days, as it is a high-security government facility.
The palace is typically closed to the public year-round, except for occasional government-sanctioned open days.
Visitors should maintain a respectful volume and adhere to any posted security cordons.
