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The Grand Masters Palace, Valletta. The handsome palace was built between 1573 and 1578 by the celebrated Maltese architect “Gerolamo Cassar (1520-86), who was also responsible for the Co-Cathedral of St John. Today it is the President’s office and the seat of the Maltese Parliament, but for more than two hundred years it was the residence of the Grand Master, supreme head of the Order of the Knights of St John.

Neptune’s Courtyard. The impressive statue that gives its name to the main courtyard is attributed to the Flemish born sculptor Giambologna (1529-1608). It is said that Admiral Andrea Doria, a friend of Grand Master de la Valletta, volunteered to pose naked for the statue.

Tapestry Chamber. In this elegant room, the senior Knights attended to day to day business and in later years, the Maltese Parliament met. It is now lit dimly to preserve the sumptuous gobelin tapestries, (Note, no flash photos are allowed).