Inquisitor’s Palace
Birgu, Malta

The Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu, Malta, is one of the most historically significant buildings on the Maltese Islands, representing over 500 years of continuous use and transformation. Located within the fortified city of Birgu (Vittoriosa), the palace reflects Malta’s evolution from a stronghold of the Knights of St John to a modern European nation.

Originally constructed as a judicial building, it later became the headquarters of the Roman Inquisition in Malta and today functions as a museum preserving this complex and often misunderstood chapter of history.

Origins as the Castellania (1530s)

The origins of the palace date to the early 1530s, shortly after the arrival of the Knights of St John in Malta in 1530. The building was initially constructed as the Castellania, serving as the civil law courts of the Order.

At this time, Birgu was the administrative centre of Malta, and the Castellania formed part of the essential institutional framework of governance, where legal matters and disputes were heard.

Transformation into the Inquisitor’s Palace (1574)

A major turning point occurred in 1574 with the arrival of Pietro Dusina, the first Inquisitor and Apostolic Delegate in Malta. The building was assigned to him as his official residence and tribunal, marking the beginning of its role as the Palazzo del Sant’Ufficio.

From this point onward, the palace functioned as:

• The residence of the Inquisitor
• The seat of the Inquisition tribunal
• An administrative centre
• A prison complex

This transformation marked the start of over two centuries of inquisitorial activity on the island.

The Inquisition in Malta (16th–18th Centuries)

The Roman Inquisition in Malta played a significant role in regulating religious life and maintaining doctrinal orthodoxy. Cases brought before the tribunal often related to:

• Heresy and religious deviation
• Superstition and folk practices
• Moral conduct

While the Maltese Inquisition was generally less severe than its counterparts elsewhere in Europe, it exercised considerable influence over society. The palace became a symbol of authority, justice, and religious oversight.

The 62 Inquisitors of Malta (1561–1798)

A total of 62 Inquisitors served in Malta between 1561 and 1798, acting as Apostolic Delegates of the Pope and heads of the Roman Inquisition tribunal on the island.

This list includes confirmed inquisitors, transitional vacancies, and disputed or nominal appointments. Where applicable, administrative gaps are explicitly indicated.

#	Name / Status	Start	End	Notes
1	Domenico Cubelles	1561	1566	First Inquisitor of Malta
2	Martino Royas	1573	1574
3	Pietro Dusina	1574	1575
4	Pier Santo Humano	1575	1577
5	Rinaldo Corso	1577	1579
6	Domenico Petrucci	1579	1580
7	Federico Cefalotto	1580	1583
8	Pier Francesco Costa	1583	1585
9	Ascanio Libertano	1585	1587
10	Giovan Battista Petralata	1587	1587
11	Paolo Bellardito	1587	1591
12	Angelo Gemmario	1591	1591
13	Giovanni Ludovico Dell’Armi	1592	1595
14	Innocenzo Del Bufalo	1595	1598
15	Antonio Ortensio	1598	1600
16	Fabrizio Verallo	1600	1605
17	Ettore Diotallevi	1605	1607
18	Leonetto Della Corbara	1607	1609
19	Evangelista Carbonese	1609	1614
20	Fabio Delagonessa	1614	1619
21	Antonio Tornielli	1619	1621
22	Paolo Torelli	1621	1623
23	Carlo Bovi	1623	1623
24	Onorato Visconti	1624	1627
25	Niccolò Herrera	1627	1630
26	Ludovico Serristori	1630	1630
27	Martino Alfieri	1631	1634
28	Fabio Chigi	1634	1639
29	Giovanni Battista Gori Pannellini	1639	1646
30	Antonio Pignatelli	1646	1649
31	Carlo Cavalletti	1649	1652
32	Federico Borromeo	1653	1655
33	Giulio Degli Oddi	1655	1658
34	Gerolamo Casanate	1658	1663
35	Galeazzo Marescotti	1663	1667
36	Angelo Maria Ranuzzi	1668	1668
37	Carlo Bichi	1668	1670
38	Giovanni Tempi	1670	1672
39	Raniero Pallavicini	1672	1677
40	Ercole Visconti	1677	1678
41	Giacomo Cantelmi	1678	1683/86	Term date disputed
42	Innico Caracciolo	1683/86	1691	Start date disputed
43	Francesco Acquaviva d’Aragona	1691	1694
44	Tommaso Ruffo	1694	1698
45	Giacomo Filiberto Ferrero	1698	1703
46	Giorgio Spinola	1703	1706
47	Giacomo Caracciolo	1706	1710
48	Raniero d’Elci	1711	1715
49	Lazzaro Pallavicini	1718	1720
50	Antonio Ruffo	1720	1728
51	Fabrizio Serbelloni	1728	1730
52	Giovanni F. Stoppani	1731	1735
53	Carlo F. Durini	1735	1739
54	Ludovico Gualterio	1739	1743
55	Paolo Passionei	1743	1754
56	Gregorio Salviati	1754	1759
57	Angelo Durini	1760	1766
58	Giovanni O. Mancinforte Sperelli	1766	1771
59	Antonio Lante	1771	1777
60	Antonio Felice Zondadari	1777	1785
—	Vacancy / Failed appointment (Falconieri)	1785	1793	Never effectively took office
61	Giovanni Filippo Gallarati Scotti	1785	1793	Nominal/administrative appointment period
62	Giulio Carpegna	1793	1798	End of office at French occupation

Architectural Expansion and Development

Between the late 16th and 18th centuries, the palace underwent continuous expansion and modification. Successive inquisitors enlarged the structure, transforming it from a functional court building into a more elaborate residence.

Key developments included:

• Acquisition of adjacent properties
• Construction of internal courtyards
• Addition of prison cells and interrogation rooms
• Baroque architectural embellishments

By the 18th century, the palace had acquired the appearance of a refined Roman-style palazzo.

Commemorative Inscription and Architectural Additions

A Latin inscription within the palace records an important phase of architectural development during the 18th century. It refers to improvements carried out under successive popes and the Inquisitor Giovanni Francesco Stoppani, including the construction of new staircases to enhance access within the building.

Archival Offices (Tabularium) and Climate Adaptation

A second inscription within the palace refers specifically to the tabularium (archives office), documenting its construction, later refurbishment, and adaptations made in 1733 to improve internal comfort, particularly in response to Malta’s intense summer heat. This provides rare insight into both the administrative function of the building and early architectural responses to climate.

Latin Inscription – Inquisitor’s Palace (Tabularium)

This inscription records works carried out to the archival office (tabularium) of the Inquisitor’s Palace, including structural improvements and adaptations for comfort.

Original Latin Text

OFFICII TABULARIUM
INNOCENTII PAPAE XII BENEFICENTISSIMI
HAC PHILIP FERRERI GENERALIS INQUISITORIS DILIGENTIA
JAMPRIDEM EXSTRUCTUM
INSTRUCTUM NUPER TIGNIS ET LAQUEARIBUS
IO. FRANCISCUS STUPPANUS CLEMENTE PAPA XII GENERALIS INQUISITOR
REFICI
ET AD LENIENDOS SUB SYRIO FLAGRANTES AESTUS
IN COMMODIOREM FORMAM
REDIGI
CURAVIT
ANNO MDCCXXXIII

English Translation

The archive office (tabularium), built some time ago through the diligence of Philip Ferreri, Inquisitor General, under the most generous Pope Innocent XII, and recently fitted with beams and ceilings, was restored by Giovanni Francesco Stoppani, Inquisitor General under Pope Clement XII. He also caused it to be adapted into a more comfortable form in order to lessen the intense heat under the Syrian sun. This was carried out in the year 1733.

Prisons and Judicial Spaces

One of the most compelling aspects of the palace is its prison complex, which remains preserved today. The cells provide insight into the conditions experienced by detainees and the nature of judicial procedures during the period.

Graffiti left by prisoners on the walls offer rare and personal glimpses into the lives of those who passed through the Inquisition system.

End of the Inquisition (1798)

The Inquisition in Malta came to an abrupt end in 1798 during the French occupation of the island. Revolutionary reforms led to the abolition of ecclesiastical tribunals and the suppression of the Inquisition.

This marked the conclusion of the palace’s role as a centre of religious authority.

British Period and Changing Uses

Following the departure of the French and the establishment of British rule, the palace was repurposed for a variety of functions, including:

• A military hospital
• An officers’ mess
• Administrative accommodation

These adaptive reuses ensured the survival of the building through the 19th and early 20th centuries.

20th Century and War Period

During the Second World War, parts of the palace were affected by the broader impact of the conflict on Malta. The building was also used by religious orders displaced by wartime damage, further contributing to its layered history.

Conversion into a Museum

In the 20th century, the palace underwent restoration and was eventually opened to the public as a museum. Today, it is managed as part of Malta’s national heritage.

The museum presents:

• The history of the Inquisition in Malta
• Ethnographic collections
• Religious artefacts
• Interpretations of daily life in historical Malta

It is notable as one of the very few surviving Inquisitor’s Palaces in the world, and the only one open to the public.

Architectural Significance

The building’s architecture reflects its long evolution:

• 16th-century judicial origins
• 17th–18th century Baroque expansion
• Later adaptations for institutional use

Key features include:

• Internal courtyards
• Gothic and Baroque elements
• A complex, layered layout

Cultural Importance

The Inquisitor’s Palace stands as a powerful symbol of Malta’s historical journey, representing:

• The rule of the Knights of St John
• The influence of the Catholic Church
• The development of legal and social structures

Its history provides valuable insight into the interaction between authority, religion, and daily life in Malta over several centuries.

Location

Location:Birgu (Vittoriosa), Malta

INQUISITOR'S PALACE
THIS PALACE WAS BUILT DURING THE
NORMAN DOMINATION TO SERVE AS
LAW COURTS AND FROM 1574 TO 1798
WAS THE SEAT OF THE INQUISITION
OF THE SIXTY TWO INQUISITORS
WHO RESIDED HERE, TWO WERE
SUBSEQUENTLY ELECTED SUPREME
PONTIFFS AND TWENTY TWO WERE
MADE CARDINALS.
THE PALACE WAS ENLARGED TO ITS
PRESENT SIZE IN 1767

Conclusion

The Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu is a unique historical monument that encapsulates over five centuries of Maltese history. From its origins as a law court to its role as the centre of the Inquisition and its present function as a museum, the palace offers a comprehensive narrative of Malta’s past.

Today, it remains one of the most important heritage sites in Malta, attracting visitors interested in history, architecture, and the complex legacy of the Inquisition.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Inquisitor’s Palace built?

It was originally constructed in the 1530s as the Castellania.

What was its main purpose?

It served as the headquarters of the Inquisition in Malta for over 200 years.

Can you visit it today?

Yes, it is open as a museum.