Inquisitor’s Palace is a historic house museum and the National Museum of Ethnography in Birgu, Malta. Its rooms trace the building’s changing roles, from the Inquisitor’s official residence and law court to later uses under French and British rule.
- Location: Main Gate Street, Birgu BRG 1023, Vittoriosa, Malta
- From Senglea Suites: about a 22-minute walk or 7-minute drive
- Admission: €6 for adults aged 18 and over; reduced rates and free admission apply to other age and visitor groups
- What it is: a historic house museum and the National Museum of Ethnography
A historic palace in Birgu
Inquisitor’s Palace stands in Birgu, also known as Vittoriosa, one of the Three Cities; Senglea is a separate city in the same area. From 1571 to 1798, the palace served as the official residence and law court of the Inquisitor. The Inquisition was abolished by the French after their arrival in Malta in 1798.
The building continued to serve different purposes under French and British rule, and the Dominican Order used it for a period after the Second World War. Today, Heritage Malta describes it as both a historic house museum and the National Museum of Ethnography.
How do you get from Senglea to Inquisitor’s Palace?
The palace is in Birgu, a different city in the Three Cities area from Senglea.
If you’re planning a wider route, you can pair the palace with a visit to Fort Saint Angelo or the Malta Maritime Museum. For a broader itinerary, see this guide to one day in Senglea, Birgu and Valletta.
What can you see inside Inquisitor’s Palace?
The museum route moves through domestic and official spaces, private quarters and rooms associated with the Holy Office. The building also contains a wing dedicated to the National Textiles Collection.
You can see the historic kitchen area, the piano nobile’s official halls and private quarters, and spaces connected with the Inquisition, including the tribunal chamber, torture chamber and prison complex. These different rooms make the palace’s former domestic and judicial functions part of the same visit.
Inquisitor’s Palace tickets and opening hours
Heritage Malta lists admission at €6 for adults aged 18 and over, €4.50 for youths aged 12–17, seniors aged 60 and over, and students or concession visitors, and €3 for children aged 6–11. Infants aged 1–5, Heritage Malta members and Heritage Malta Passport holders enter free.
Heritage Malta’s online ticket listing says tickets remain valid for 30 days after purchase. It also says the palace ticket grants admission to the Biennale exhibition at the Birgu Old Armoury; check the official site before you go for current ticket details and opening hours.
Access and practical details
Heritage Malta classifies the palace as partially accessible, noting that some areas cannot be fully accessed by people with mobility impairment. Uneven flooring, low lighting and low doorways are among the issues identified, so consider these conditions when planning your route through the museum.
Heritage Malta lists a gift shop, food and drinks, and indoor and outdoor seating among the facilities on site. The closest bus stop is a three-minute walk from the palace. Parking spaces are available in front of the museum on a first-come, first-served basis, with additional parking outside the city walls.
Other nearby historic stops
Birgu’s historic setting makes it straightforward to include other Three Cities landmarks in a day’s plans. Fort Saint Angelo and the Malta Maritime Museum are nearby stops to consider alongside the palace; the linked guides cover each in more detail.
If you’re combining several places, keep the palace’s partially accessible layout in mind as you plan the order of your stops. For ideas beyond Birgu, the Senglea, Birgu and Valletta itinerary brings the Three Cities into one plan.
FAQs
Where is Inquisitor’s Palace?
It is on Main Gate Street in Birgu, also called Vittoriosa, Malta. Senglea is a separate city in the Three Cities area.
How much are tickets to Inquisitor’s Palace?
Heritage Malta lists adult admission at €6, with reduced prices for eligible visitors and free admission for infants aged 1–5, Heritage Malta members and Heritage Malta Passport holders.
Is Inquisitor’s Palace accessible?
The site is classified as partially accessible. Some areas cannot be fully accessed by people with mobility impairment, and uneven floors, low lighting and low doorways are identified as access issues.
What is the address of Inquisitor’s Palace?
The palace is at Main Gate Street, Birgu BRG 1023, Vittoriosa, Malta.