Inquisitor’s Palace, Birgu

Historic Building in Birgu

CC BY-SA 2.5 / Marie-Lan Nguyen

The Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu (Vittoriosa) is one of Malta's most remarkable historic buildings and among the very few surviving palaces of its kind in Europe. Originally constructed in the 1530s, the building began its life as the civil law courts of the early Knights of St. John before being adapted into the official residence and tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in 1574. From then until 1798, it served as the center of the Roman Catholic Church's judicial authority in Malta, housing successive inquisitors — many of whom later rose to high-ranking positions within the Church, including papacy. Architecturally, the palace is a fascinating blend of Renaissance, Mannerist, and Baroque styles, evolving over the centuries as each inquisitor made his own additions and alterations. Its dignified exterior conceals a labyrinth of grand halls, courtyards, and private chambers that reveal the complex interplay between power, religion, and daily life in early modern Malta.

Inside, visitors can explore beautifully restored rooms that trace the building's transformation from a knightly courthouse to a seat of ecclesiastical authority. The tribunal chamber, with its imposing wooden furnishings and stone walls, evokes the solemnity of the trials once held there. The Inquisitor's private apartments display period furniture, religious art, and the inquisitors' personal artifacts, while the prison cells and underground passages offer a stark reminder of the darker side of this institution. Yet, unlike the brutal image often associated with the Inquisition elsewhere in Europe, historical records suggest that Malta's inquisitors often acted as mediators and moral guides rather than executioners, focusing more on correction than persecution. The palace also houses the National Museum of Ethnography, which explores Maltese traditions, religious practices, and daily life across centuries, connecting faith and culture through interactive exhibits.

The palace's architecture and atmosphere reflect the grandeur and gravity of its past. The elegant central courtyard, lined with arches and a grand staircase, once hosted inquisitors, clerics, and visiting dignitaries. Many inquisitors who resided here went on to significant ecclesiastical roles — the most famous being Fabrizio Verallo and Antonio Pignatelli, the latter of whom became Pope Innocent XII. Today, the Inquisitor's Palace stands as a powerful reminder of Malta's spiritual and political history, offering visitors a rare opportunity to walk through rooms where faith, justice, and power once intertwined.

The Inquisitor’s Palace, Birgu appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Birgu!

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