San Anton Palace
| San Anton Palace | |
|---|---|
| Il-Palazz Sant'Anton | |
San Anton Palace
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| General information | |
| Status | Intact |
| Type | Palace |
| Location | Attard, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°53′47″N 14°26′48″E / 35.89639°N 14.44667°ECoordinates: 35°53′47″N 14°26′48″E / 35.89639°N 14.44667°E |
| Current tenants | President of Malta |
| Named for | Anthony of Padua |
| Construction started | c. 1600 |
| Completed | c. 1625 |
| Renovated | 18th–19th centuries |
| Client | Antoine de Paule |
| Owner | Government of Malta |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Limestone |
San Anton Palace (Maltese: Il-Palazz Sant'Anton) is a palace in Attard, Malta, which is the official residence of the President of Malta. It was originally built in the early 17th century as a country villa for Antoine de Paule, a knight of the Order of St. John. It was expanded into a palace following de Paule's election as Grand Master in 1623.
The palace was used as a residence by subsequent Grand Masters, being enlarged a number of times in the process. It was the headquarters of the rebel National Assembly during the uprising of 1798–1800, and it later became a residence for the Civil Commissioners, Governors and Governors-General of Malta. It has been the official residence of the President since the office was created in 1974.
The palace is surrounded by the extensive San Anton Gardens, parts of which have been open to the public since 1882.
In around 1600, Antoine de Paule, a knight of the Order of St. John from the Langue of Provence, acquired a piece of land in Attard and built a country villa. De Paule was elected Grand Master in 1623, and the villa was subsequently enlarged into a palace in around 1625. The palace was named San Anton after the Grand Master's patron saint, Anthony of Padua.
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