Palazzo de La Salle

Palazzo de La Salle is a historic palace at 219 Republic Street in Valletta that serves as the home of the Malta Society of Arts, an institution for the promotion of the arts and crafts. Behind its elegant frontage is more than 500 square metres of equipped exhibition, performance and music space, so a visit can mean a gallery show, a concert, a comedy night or a class.

The society itself is not-for-profit and was founded in 1852, which makes it the oldest body of its kind in Malta. For UK visitors it is a way to see working contemporary Maltese art inside a Grade 1 scheduled building, and it is listed in our directory of art galleries in Malta.

The palazzo and its history

The palace was probably built in the 1570s. In the late seventeenth century it was the residence of a Prior of England and Venice, and in 1713 it became the home of the family of Grand Master Perellos. Around 1730 it passed to the De La Salle brothers, two French noblemen appointed as bailiffs by the Order, and their name has stayed attached to the building ever since. In 1992 it was listed as a Grade 1 scheduled property, and the society has used it as its base since the building was transferred to it by government deed on 11 June 1923.

The wider story of the island's rulers is told in our Knights of Malta guide, and the palazzo is a good companion visit to the nearby St John's Co-Cathedral. To mark a century at the palazzo, the society published Palazzo De La Salle: Genesis and Evolution, a 240-page illustrated hardback with essays by local academics, edited by Caroline Miggiani and Gabriel Zammit with photography by Alex Attard. The original price is €70, with members paying €49 and non-members €59.50.

Exhibitions, concerts and events

The programme changes throughout the year and mixes disciplines. Recent and upcoming listings include solo and group exhibitions, stand-up comedy nights, chamber concerts, sessions of Maltese folktales and performances staged in the palazzo's music spaces. The society has long supported emerging and established artists, and the building is a calm place to step off busy Republic Street for an hour.

Valletta is compact, so it is easy to combine a visit with the nearby Upper Barrakka Gardens and our wider Valletta guide. If you plan a few days in the capital, see our listings of hotels in Valletta.

Courses and London College of Music exams

The society runs winter courses in visual, applied and performing arts. Visual art classes include art for kids, art for leisure for adults and mature students, portraiture, oil painting, pencil and charcoal drawing, clay modelling, art workshops and an introduction to AI for artists. Applied art covers bookbinding, contemporary weaving, creative writing, crochet, dressmaking, knitting, lace making and sewing. Performing arts include guitar, pianoforte, violin, double bass for beginners and public speaking.

The society is also the Malta centre for the London College of Music, an international examination board that offers graded and diploma qualifications in music, drama and communication. Families relocating from the UK may find that useful for continuing familiar music grades; our guide to relocating to Malta covers the wider move.

Visiting and getting in touch

The palazzo is at Palazzo de La Salle, 219 Republic Street, Valletta VLT1116, in the heart of the capital. Exhibition days and times vary by season and event, so check before you travel. Membership is available for those who want to support the society.

To ask about exhibitions, spaces, courses, exams or the book, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the Malta Society of Arts.