Inquisitor's Palace
Inquisitor's Palace
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Inquisitor's Palace, situated in the heart of Vittoriosa, is one of the very few surviving palaces of its kind which, in the early modern period could be found all over Europe and South America. Many of these palaces simply succumbed to the ravages of time or were victims of the anti-reactionary power unleashed by the French Revolution. Fortunately, the Maltese Inquisitor's Palace, throughout its five centuries of history, always hosted high-ranking officials representing the main powers on the island, who therefore ensured its survival.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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See what travellers are saying
- Serena CCheshire, United Kingdom881 contributionsGood insight into Birgu and the inquisition!We went to see this palace on a joint ticket with Fort St Angelo. The good thing was that you didn't have to do both in the same day - that would have been too much culture! It was called the Harbour Combo! There is quite a lot of information on the Inquisition (not the Spanish one!) and how people were treated. The building itself is interesting too - lots of ups and downs!Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 7, 2023
- KMKM57 contributionsSomething different and funReally a good way to see Malta Knights history. It is well done and worth the visit. You can see in 45 min or take longer, it is located very near other major sites. Both kids and adults enjoyed thisVisited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten March 28, 2024
- Matthew PLondon, United Kingdom6,288 contributionsBeautiful palace with gruesome remindersEasy to find and full of interesting history. Lots to see and it is quite a large place. Loads of steps to climb. Interesting to see in the walls the changes as time went on and they made changes.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 23, 2024
- babykongLondon, United Kingdom1,291 contributionsFabulous Exhibits.Great place to visit, with a wealth of history and containing lots of interesting exhibits. I visited with a tour guide, who brought the history and stories to life, but of course you can also visit by yourself. There are also bathrooms available.Visited September 2024Travelled soloWritten September 16, 2024
- ianc951Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom213 contributionsInquisitor's palace from 1574 to 1798Would never had come here if it were not for getting the combo ticket (Fort+Palace+Maritime Museum) when we visited St. Angelo's Fort, but so glad we did. Beautiful old building containing lots of history including some eclectic collections. Must have been a busy place considering how worn some of the stone steps are.Visited September 2024Travelled with familyWritten October 1, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
571 reviews
Excellent
149
Very good
233
Average
135
Poor
41
Terrible
13
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hungaryforadventure
Columbus, OH57 contributions
Jul 2022
This palace, site of the Catholic Inquisition in Malta, is fascinating. You've probably heard of the Spanish Inquisition, but there were multiple inquisitions throughout the Catholic world. I was fascinated by the stories of the individuals who came before the Inquisition and to see the prison chambers. Prisoners carved graffiti into the walls, such as boats and flowers. This site gave me perspective on an aspect of history that I didn't know much about.
My husband and I visited with our multi-site ticket, which included the Tarxien Temples and Fort St. Angelo. This ticket is a great value, and I recommend visiting all three locations! You can walk to Fort St. Angelo from the Inquisitor's Palace. The Temples are a short bus or car ride away to a neighboring town.
My husband and I visited with our multi-site ticket, which included the Tarxien Temples and Fort St. Angelo. This ticket is a great value, and I recommend visiting all three locations! You can walk to Fort St. Angelo from the Inquisitor's Palace. The Temples are a short bus or car ride away to a neighboring town.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jurgen V
Dendermonde, Belgium100 contributions
Aug 2023
In the 'Inquisitor's Palace' you can view utensils from the time of the Inquisition, but also the former courtrooms, dungeons, cells, chambers,... these rooms are well preserved and you seem to go back in time. Don't forget to pay attention to the beautiful furniture, paintings, ceilings,.... I also thought the courtyard of this palace was quite beautiful. You'll be done in an hour. Admission was 6 euros and in my opinion I got value for money. In the sense that in Malta I paid the same or more for some museums/sights that were much less worth it. Of course you have to be somewhat interested in history and/or the subject...
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobeRunner22
Sydney, Australia304 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
This was supposed to be the main attraction in Birgu. I will first provide my view of attraction itself, and then I will write about the reason why I gave this 2 stars.
I was underwhelmed by the attraction because I personally do not think the interiors were worth the effort. It seems to be overmarketed but I didn't find the museum particularly interesting unless you are into law and justice.
I don't regret going in and taking a peek but there are better things to do with your time. I guess my expectations were high given all the great things that were written about this place.
The reason for the 2 stars is because I am now very used to great service and hospitality after spending 7 days here. This is a country that relies solely on tourism to survive after all.
When I got there I had 45 mins before closing and I was abruptly told that they will start closing the site at 4.45pm and by 5pm the staff will leave.
They were basically telling me that even though they shut at 5pm there will be nothing to see at 4.45pm because they will shut the doors inside to the rooms at that time.
It was my last day in Malta and when I tried to visit on Monday they were totally shut so I had no choice but to see what I could and rush through it.
I saw everything in 30 mins and then when I tried to exit at around 4.45pm they turned off all the lights downstairs and it was actually a dangerous hazard. I could not see anything. I had to feel my way out of the room to get back to the front reception to leave.
This is totally ridiculous. They were serious about wanting the site to be totally shut at 5pm and the staff to be out the door by then.
Don't advertise that you are open till 5pm when you actually close at 4.45pm to the point where you turn off the lights and don't give people an opportunity to exit when they are still upstairs.
I was at other Heritage Malta sites and they did not do this to me. I was at the National Archaelogical Musuem the other day in Valletta and the lovely boys Brian and Kevin kept the site open till 5pm even letting me buy a few souvenirs and they didn't even go home till about 5.30pm.
Heritage Malta should do something about this.
I gave an extra star for the nice security guard who helped me find the toilet at the end and for having a nice chat with me and showed me a few things.
I was underwhelmed by the attraction because I personally do not think the interiors were worth the effort. It seems to be overmarketed but I didn't find the museum particularly interesting unless you are into law and justice.
I don't regret going in and taking a peek but there are better things to do with your time. I guess my expectations were high given all the great things that were written about this place.
The reason for the 2 stars is because I am now very used to great service and hospitality after spending 7 days here. This is a country that relies solely on tourism to survive after all.
When I got there I had 45 mins before closing and I was abruptly told that they will start closing the site at 4.45pm and by 5pm the staff will leave.
They were basically telling me that even though they shut at 5pm there will be nothing to see at 4.45pm because they will shut the doors inside to the rooms at that time.
It was my last day in Malta and when I tried to visit on Monday they were totally shut so I had no choice but to see what I could and rush through it.
I saw everything in 30 mins and then when I tried to exit at around 4.45pm they turned off all the lights downstairs and it was actually a dangerous hazard. I could not see anything. I had to feel my way out of the room to get back to the front reception to leave.
This is totally ridiculous. They were serious about wanting the site to be totally shut at 5pm and the staff to be out the door by then.
Don't advertise that you are open till 5pm when you actually close at 4.45pm to the point where you turn off the lights and don't give people an opportunity to exit when they are still upstairs.
I was at other Heritage Malta sites and they did not do this to me. I was at the National Archaelogical Musuem the other day in Valletta and the lovely boys Brian and Kevin kept the site open till 5pm even letting me buy a few souvenirs and they didn't even go home till about 5.30pm.
Heritage Malta should do something about this.
I gave an extra star for the nice security guard who helped me find the toilet at the end and for having a nice chat with me and showed me a few things.
Written October 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RicherTrips
Monterrey, Mexico4,593 contributions
Jan 2022
Spare some time if you have already seen the harbor, Saint Lawrence”s church and Saint Angelo’s Fort.
It’s a short visit to an old and many times restored building. There are many museums about the Inquisition around Europe, more illustrative than this one.
There are some cute miniatures on display, that might be interesting for children.
It’s a short visit to an old and many times restored building. There are many museums about the Inquisition around Europe, more illustrative than this one.
There are some cute miniatures on display, that might be interesting for children.
Written February 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
babykong
London, UK1,291 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
Great place to visit, with a wealth of history and containing lots of interesting exhibits.
I visited with a tour guide, who brought the history and stories to life, but of course you can also visit by yourself.
There are also bathrooms available.
I visited with a tour guide, who brought the history and stories to life, but of course you can also visit by yourself.
There are also bathrooms available.
Written September 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giorgio T
Crema, Italy778 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I really enjoyed the visit to this palace, which I also enjoyed completely alone! You immerse yourself in history thanks to the exhaustive and engaging explanations, and you come to understand how much Catholicism permeated the daily life of the Maltese and how much its ironclad application instilled terror in even the most apparently innocent people. The palace is perfectly preserved and the occasional installations do not spoil the atmosphere at all. The prisons and the explanations about the lives of those locked up there were very interesting!
Written February 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry M
Hamilton, Canada4,921 contributions
Mar 2023
Such places always intrigue for what was done in the name of the Roman Catholic religion. Originally law courts for the Knights, the pope appointed the various inquisitors who doled out justice. There was enough description to give you a fair sense of what transpired within the walls. Napoleon put a stop to the inquisition here in 1798.
Written March 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorenz
287 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Not all rooms of this palace are preserved with their original furnishings. However, you can appreciate the kitchen complete with crockery, the cells of jailers and suspects, the interrogation room and the torture room with some work tools. Along the way, images and paintings, original documents and detailed notes and historical information effectively convey the idea of how the inquisitor and his collaborators operated. Duration of the visit approx. 1.30 am.
Written May 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EPH123
Gettorf, Germany267 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
There is a lot of fuss about this house, but there is little to see: a small kitchen (which makes you wonder how a palace is supposed to be supplied from these two rooms), a few panels, a few pieces, the inquisitor's bedroom as the only furnished room, a collection of figures (what does that have to do with the topic?) and then the advertised horrific torture area. Where was that supposed to be? The rope noose and a video? Seriously, that was all?
Written September 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KmanWent
Ashby de la Zouch, UK206 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Quirky building containing all manner of rooms for the grand inquisitor, his staff, and the various miscreants being examined. A very informative history of inquisitors, the building's development, and its uses. Small admission price and a good collection of souvenirs, guidebooks etc. Well worth the trip to Birgu (Beer-Goo).
Written August 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, may I ask how you can find a licensed guide for the Inquisitor's palace?
Written October 11, 2019
Vorrei sapere della pergamena che coinvolge Caravaggio in un processo come testimone alla interno del museo
Written September 23, 2018
Le notizie della presenza del Caravaggio sull'isola che presumibilmente durò circa poco più di un anno, si hanno per quanto concerne il tribunale dell'inquisizione in uno scritto in cui lui compare come testimone di un processo . Altri ve ne sono ma non li .
Written October 3, 2018
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