San Anton Palace

San Anton Palace stands in Attard, a village in Malta’s northern region. Built early in the 17th century as a country villa for Antoine de Paule, a knight of the Order of St John, it became a palace when he became Grand Master in 1623. Later it served as home to other Grand Masters, then to British civil commissioners and governors. In 1974 it became the official residence of Malta’s president. The palace is surrounded by San Anton Gardens, parts of which have been open to the public since 1882. The palace has witnessed key moments in Maltese history. During the uprising of 1798–1800 it housed the rebel National Assembly. Admiral Sir Alexander Ball, the first British civil commissioner, lived there until his death in 1809. Queen Elizabeth II stayed at the palace during three royal visits. The building is listed as a Grade 1 national monument and its gardens contain trees planted by visiting heads of state. Inside, the palace contains two chapels: one dedicated to Our Lady of Pilar with ribbed vaulting and heraldic decoration, the other known as the Russian Chapel, originally built for Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna. The formal gardens include walkways, ponds with ducks and swans, sculptures and an aviary. Visitors find exotic trees, fountains and an orangery where governors once grew oranges for Christmas gifts. The President’s Kitchen Garden nearby provides food for charitable events organised by the Malta Community Chest Fund.