Villa Portelli is located across the hill leading to Bighi in Kalkara and was built in the early 19th century by Sir Agostino Portelli, the founder of the Malta Chamber of Commerce.

During the Second World War, this villa served as the residence of the Flag Officer. In 1961, it became the official residence of Admiral Sir Douglas Eric Holland-Martin, replacing his previous residence in Valletta. On January 30, 1979, the building was taken over by the government.

In 2023, the government transferred ownership of this villa to Heritage Malta, the national agency for cultural heritage protection and conservation.