What originally occupied the site of Palazzo Ferreria?

The Order of St John previously operated a foundry on this land to produce armaments for the knights.

Who designed Palazzo Ferreria?

Architect Giuseppe Bonavia designed the building, incorporating Maltese timber balconies into a facade inspired by Italian architecture.

What do the carvings on the facade represent?

The exterior stonework displays the coats of arms belonging to the Buttigieg and Camilleri families.

Can visitors tour the interior rooms?

Sightseeing access inside the main palace is unavailable because the upper premises function as government offices. Visitors may only enter the commercial retail spaces located on the ground floor.

How does the palace compare in size to other palaces in the capital?

The building is the largest palace in Valletta after the Grandmaster's Palace.

Birkirkara · Malta

Palazzo Ferreria: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Residents navigate daily shopping at the street-level storefronts of Palazzo Ferreria while ministry officials handle state business in the offices overhead.

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Now in the cityPalazzo Ferreria+19°CClearupdated 04:21 PM Around here9

Exchange rate€0.89per 1 $EUR — the local currencyas of Nov 2, 2026

Within two hours

Verdala Palace≈ 30 min Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni≈ 40 min

About the place

Palazzo Ferreria occupies a prominent position near the entrance of Valletta, combining Italian design with traditional Maltese timber balconies.

The palace stands on ground once used by the Order of Saint John to cast armaments. Architect Giuseppe Bonavia designed the residence for Giuseppe Buttigieg and Giovanna Camilleri, mounting traditional timber balconies onto a façade patterned after Italian urban palaces. Their family coats of arms remain visible carved into the stone exterior, marking private residential wealth that rivalled the Grandmaster's Palace.

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Following wartime destruction across the city, the Francia family leased sections of the estate to the public works department to oversee capital reconstruction. The state later purchased the entire property, repurposing the domestic chambers into government ministry offices. Today, street-level storefronts trade beneath the protected residential balconies, creating an active mix of commercial retail and state bureaucracy.

Associations

Timber balconiesTraditional Maltese woodwork accents the Italianate exterior.
Knightly foundryThe plot originally housed the Order of Saint John arms foundry.
Administrative useUpper floors house ministry offices and stay closed to casual visitors.
Street-level shopsActive retail units occupy the base rather than museum galleries.

Facts

The Order of Saint John operated an armament foundry on the grounds before the palace was erected.
Architect Giuseppe Bonavia incorporated traditional wooden balconies into a building inspired by Italian palazzi.
The structure ranks directly behind the Grandmaster's Palace in overall size among the capital's palaces.
Government departments used the interior to plan the postwar reconstruction of Valletta before purchasing the site.

Updated September 24, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Palazzo Ferreria: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around9

Palazzo Ferreria occupies a prominent position near the entrance of Valletta, combining Italian design with traditional Maltese timber balconies.

Getting there and staying

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