San Anton Palace is the official residence of the President of Malta and one of the finest 17th-century buildings on the island. The honey-coloured stone is typical of the period — austere on the outside but built around a generous internal courtyard with arcades and a fountain.
The palace itself is not normally open to the public, but the surrounding gardens are. The Knights of St John built the place to escape the summer heat of Valletta, and the layout still works for the same reason: thick walls, deep shade, and the rustle of fountains. The ceremonial state apartments are occasionally opened during Maltese culture week in November.