The Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa is one of the very few surviving examples of a style of palace that would have been found all over Europe and South America in the early modern period. The palace owes its survival to the fact that throughout its five centuries of history, it always hosted high ranking officials representing the main ruling powers on the island. Fortunately, the palace also survived the Second World War and the threat of modern development.

The Inquisitor’s Palace was not built purposely as a residence for the Inquisitor. In fact, it was erected as the civil law courts of the Order of St John in the 1530s, soon after the Knights arrived in Malta. It continued to serve as law courts until 1571 when the Order moved to Valletta after the siege in 1565.

The palace remained unoccupied until 1574 when Mgr Pietro Dusina arrived in Malta as the first general inquisitor and apostolic delegate of the Maltese islands. The Grand Master offered the palace to Mgr Dusina to serve as his official residence. The palace was the seat of the Inquisitors of Malta between 1574 and 1798.

Parts of the building, such as the main courtyard, date to the early Knights’ period. Access to the main halls of the palace is through an imposing 18th century staircase and the main rooms are adorned with painted decorations. The coat of arms of all the inquisitors of Malta are painted in one of the main halls and the palace also has its own private chapel. The garden was reconstructed according to original plans dating to the time of Inquisitor Fabio Chigi, who at a later stage became Pope Alexander VII.

This palace also has on exhibit a number of artefacts including an 18th century portable altar, religious paintings by local and foreign artists as well as historic furniture items. Statuary items on exhibit include a late 17th century statue of the dead Christ and the 14 Stations of the Cross modelled in clay by a Maltese craftsman.

The Inquisitor’s Palace which is located in Main Gate Street, Vittoriosa is well worth a visit since one can also enter the prison cells, the guard’s quarters, the court room and the inquisitor’s quarters, which all date back to the times of the inquisition in Malta.

Article provided by Heritage Malta