Fort St. Angelo

Castle in Birgu

CC BY-SA 4.0 / FritzPhotography

Rising proudly at the tip of the Birgu peninsula, Fort St. Angelo is one of Malta's most iconic landmarks — a fortress that has shaped the island's destiny for nearly a millennium. Originally known as Castrum Maris, it served as a medieval stronghold under Sicilian rule by the 13th century, consisting of two walled enclosures designed to guard the Grand Harbour. In 1530, the Order of St. John took possession of the fort and transformed it into a modern bastioned citadel, renaming it Fort St. Angelo. Under the direction of the Knights' military engineers, the fort became Malta's first major example of gunpowder-era defenses, complete with artillery platforms and commanding views across the harbor — a symbol of strength and vigilance.

During the Great Siege of 1565, Fort St. Angelo became the beating heart of Malta's defense. Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette and his knights used the fortress as their command post, repelling relentless Ottoman assaults. Despite enduring heavy bombardment, the fort held firm and became a symbol of the island's resilience. Later, in 1689, the renowned military engineer Carlos Grunenbergh upgraded the structure into a formidable coastal fortress, equipping it with four major gun platforms and around fifty artillery pieces, solidifying its reputation as the keystone of Malta's fortifications.

Fort St. Angelo entered a new chapter under British rule in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Royal Navy established its Mediterranean Fleet headquarters here in 1906, renaming it HMS Egmont (later HMS St. Angelo in 1933). During World War II, the fort was heavily bombed — sustaining 69 direct hits — yet it continued to function as a naval command base. It remained under British control until March 1979, when the last foreign military forces departed, returning full sovereignty to Malta.

Today, Fort St. Angelo is an essential stop for any visitor to Birgu. Managed by Heritage Malta, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and the surrounding fortified cities. Interactive exhibits, restored bastions, and preserved chapels transport visitors through centuries of warfare, faith, and survival. From medieval stronghold to Knightly citadel to naval command center, Fort St. Angelo stands as a living monument to Malta's endurance and its strategic importance at the crossroads of the Mediterranean.

The Fort St. Angelo appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Birgu!

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