Verdala Palace

Verdala Palace is a late 16th-century palace in Malta built in 1586 as a fortified hunting lodge and country residence. It was commissioned by Grand Master Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle and exhibits features of a small fortified palace rather than an urban palace.

The building is notable for its compact, fortress-like plan with corner turrets and a central courtyard; visitors approach mainly to view the exterior and the adjacent trees and gardens rather than large public interiors. The surrounding Buskett Gardens provide walking routes and green space around the palace.

Construction was completed under the Order of St. John in 1586 and the site has been adapted over the centuries for residential and ceremonial use. In modern times it functions as the presidential summer residence and hosts occasional state events.

The palace sits within the Buskett wooded area near the locality of Siġġiewi in the Dingli region of Malta, on higher ground inland from the southwestern coast. The site is reached via country roads from nearby towns and is set among cultivated gardens and groves.

• Founding: The palace was built in 1586 by Grand Master Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle as a hunting lodge and country residence.
• Access: It serves as the official summer residence for Malta's president and is not generally open to the public; the surrounding Buskett Gardens are the usual point of access for visitors.