Already central because of its geographical location, Attard since the first quarter of the seventeenth century, was increasingly so because of Sant'Anton Palace, where the first Grand Master and subsequently the Governor resided. Today it is the President's residence. Several grand old houses of note are found in Attard. Casa de Piro in Mosta Road is now the private residence of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, Fra' Andrew Bertie. Villa Apap Bologna, in St. Anthony Street corner with Triq il-Linja, with its extensive gardens, now the residence of the American Ambassador.

Villa Bologna, formerly the residence of Lord Strickland, who was prime minister of Malta from 1927 to 1930, with probably the largest private gardens and rain water reservoirs in the islands, a venue for parties, fairs and weddings. 'Villa Bologna may be the finest eighteenth century country house ever built for a Maltese family'. Adjoining it is a ceramic factory and shop, started by the heirs after the war and still open for business; this was the first of the ceramics establishments to open in Attard, of which we now have four (three are in the Ta' Qali area).

The Tunisian Ambassador, the Chinese Ambassador and the New Zealand Consul General General also live in Attard, while the EU resident representative lived in the vicinity at Tal-Mirakli on its border with Lija. When Pope John Paul II visited Malta in 1990 he stayed in Attard - at the residence of the Papal Nuncio, then Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. Increasingly a number of Maltese Ambassadors past and present, members of the judiciary and of academia, leading businessmen, journalists and other personalities also live or have kept permanent residence in Attard.