Set the scene.
Grand Master Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle built Verdala Palace in 1586 as a countryside retreat. Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar drew the plans, giving it a square form and four corner towers.
Here’s the twist.
The fortress-like appearance did not mean a simple life inside. Historical visitors described rich furnishings. The building was designed to offer enjoyment and retreat, while borrowing the visual language of castles.
Why it still matters.
Its uses changed: it served as a prison in the French period and later returned to residential use. Reading its history means following those changes, rather than assuming that one imposing exterior always meant one purpose.
FACT OR MYTH? 🤔A building with corner towers must have been only a military fort.Tap to reveal ↓
🧠 One to think about +
What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.
