An archaeological perspective of the Magistral Palace. Preliminary results of the archaeological investigations.

Lecture by Mr Christian Mifsud – Curator for Historic Buildings, Heritage Malta.

An archaeological perspective of the Magistral Palace.
Preliminary results of the archaeological investigations.

As part of the ongoing seven-year restoration project being undertaken by Heritage Malta, the agency seized the opportunity to thoroughly investigate the Grand Masters’ Palace’s history and its development. Starting as two separate units, (Palazzo del Monte and the first Auberge of Italy) from 1571 onwards, the Magistral Palace was extended and modified by subsequent Grandmasters, Governors, and later Presidents to make it fit for governing and diplomatic purposes. Unlike no other secular building, the palace has retained its intended original function as the palace of power, hence resulting in less invasive structural interventions through time. As such the palace is a well-preserved specimen of diverse architectural styles from the 16th century onwards. The complex stratification as well as the sometimes unclear archival sources, have left many inconclusive hypothetical narratives on its transformation. The archaeological investigations being carried out within the palace are the first of their kind and extent on this complex. This work provides a surgical insight into the hidden stratifications and reveals new information and previously unknown interventions, leading to a new interpretation of the palace. Through this lecture, the preliminary results of this research will be discussed, providing some insights about several of the spaces within the palace that were intervened upon during the project. .