At the heart of our capital city, Valletta, is the Grand Master's Palace, a gem of a building with an illustrious history.
You must have walked in front of it countless times but may never have had the opportunity of appreciating the beauty and history that lies within.
A key commitment of this government is to bring the country's historical sites closer to the people. We are entirely focused on doing this because we strongly believe that doing so gives people a better understanding of our country's history and identity.
Unique
Our country has unique historical buildings and monuments in the Mediterranean.
But it would be worthless if people were not sufficiently aware of these historical places and did not cherish them.
In my role as Minister for the Arts, Lands and Local Government, I have had the privilege of visiting the Palace several times and have overseen substantial investment in the upkeep and restoration of this historical gem
4 eras
This Palace tells the story of our country across four eras.
Malta under the Order of the Knights of St. John.
The French occupation.
Malta as a British colony.
Independent Malta.
Witnessing history
The balcony of the Palace witnessed Malta's main historical milestones and political achievements. From the balcony of the Palace, Malta's first President, Sir Anthony Mamo, addressed the people.
From within this Palace, our country wrote its destiny: Independence; Malta as a Republic; Malta's political and economic Freedom; and Malta's EU membership.
Civil liberties
I have had the immense privilege of serving the nation as a Member of Parliament when the Palace housed Malta's House of Representatives. Together, we passed laws of huge importance for our country - some of them life-changing ones. I recall the moments when Parliament legislated for the introduction of divorce, IVF, and same sex marriages. Those were huge milestones of which I am tremendously fond of, for they changed people's lives for the better.
Open to the public
But not everyone is aware of the grandeur and majesty of this unique building.
Last year, when we opened this palace to the public, following a restoration process, an astounding 186,000 visitors visited this place. That was extremely encouraging, but we want more people - locals and tourists to appreciate this gem of a historical building.
Restoration
As a government, we conducted an unprecedented restoration project at this Palace, with a huge investment of 40 million euros, eighteen million of which were co-financed by the European Union as part of the European Regional Development Fund.
The most ambitious conservation project of Heritage Malta to date.
One step further
We have gone one step further. Visitors now have access to the new halls that were previously inaccessible to the public.
Grandeur
The Grand Master's Drawing Room and Study, with its impressive frescoes by Leonello Spada, depicts the history of the Order of St. John, when it was still in Jerusalem.
The Grand Master's Bedroom - which, from the early 1990s onwards, was one of the rooms where the House Committees met.
The Chapel - which also served as a bedroom. For example, in 1862, the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII, slept in it.
The Cabinet of Curiosities - so named, since the original use of the room is not entirely clear.
The Conventual Chaplain's Chamber - which from the late 1980s until 2015, served as the office of the Secretary to the Prime Minister.
The Treasury Office and Passage - which, during British times, was at times used to store clean linen.
The French Hall - where, among the paintings that adorn this hall, is a portrait of the last Grand Master of Malta, Ferdinand von Hompesch, expelled by Napoleon and who died in exile in France
The Hall of the Order of St. Michael and St. George - which may have been the quarters of the people closest to the Grand Master.
And The Hall, used as Malta's House of Representatives for many years, was the place from which the destiny of our country was shaped for many years.
A strong commitment
This government is investing strongly and with vigor in the areas of culture, the arts, and national heritage.
And we are reaping the fruits of this investment in every sector.
Across all sectors
Be it in the film servicing industry, the creative sector, arts, and culture, the Labour administrations, since 2013, have invested heavily, and the results speak for themselves.
Bread and butter
Not only are Maltese artists and creatives making an excellent name for Malta abroad, but these sectors have become the bread and butter for hundreds of Maltese and Gozitans.
There was a time when it was impossible to make a decent living from arts and culture. That time is no more. We have changed that, and we still have much more to achieve - together, to ensure that more artists and creatives make their passion their living. I am confident that we shall achieve more.
The past has proved that we can do that - the future is brighter than we might think. Good times are ahead for these sectors, and Budget 2026 shall demonstrate that. It is currently a work in progress, but we are resolute in investing heavily in culture and the arts.
Heritage Malta
We are making huge strides in our national heritage. I cannot thank Heritage Malta enough for making this possible to my dear friend and colleague, Mario Cutajar, for his unwavering dedication and to all the team at Heritage led by the hardworking CEO Noel Zammit. They continue to make Malta proud.