Inquisitor's Palace
One of the few surviving inquisitorial palaces open to the public, with courtrooms and prison cells intact.
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The Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu was built as a court in the 1530s and became the seat of the Roman Inquisition on Malta from 1574 until 1798, housing sixty-two inquisitors in succession. It is one of very few such buildings anywhere that survives largely intact and open to the public: the tribunal room where the accused were examined, the prison cells with graffiti scratched into the walls by those held in them, and the inquisitor's own apartments above.
What you actually see
- The tribunal room - the court where the accused were examined.
- The prison cells - cells with graffiti scratched by those held in them.
- The inquisitor's apartments - the private rooms above the working parts of the palace.
- The survival - one of the few inquisitorial palaces still standing and open.
When to go
Year round; it is indoors and suits hot or wet days. It closes on some public holidays. Mornings are quietest.
Honest expectations
The building is a working museum and some rooms are closed for conservation. Labelling can be dense. The subject matter is grim and not suitable for all visitors.
Nearby
Fort St Angelo is at the peninsula's point, and Birgu surrounds it.
What to pack for Inquisitor's Palace
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
