Fort St. Angelo — Attraction in Birgu

The mighty guardian of the Grand Harbour! At the tip of the headland where Birgu is located, there is a peninsula that is completely occupied by Fort St. Angelo. In prehistoric times this site was already inhabited and there was a sanctuary for the goddess Astarte. That the site was also inhabited in classical antiquity is proven by an Egyptian pink granite column in the St. Anne Chapel. The history of the fort probably begins in the High Middle Ages (ca. 1000-1250), Frederick II, King of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor, appointed a castellan (governor of a medieval castle) in 1220, which indicates the presence of a castle. The first written reference to the "Castrum Maris" dates from the 1240s. During the Aragonese rule (1283-1530) the fort mainly served as a (fortified) residence of the castellan. When the Knights of St. John arrived in Malta in 1530, they found the fort in a desolate and ruinous state. The knights settled in Birgu and after renovation, the Grand Master settled in the old residence of the castellan. Since Fort St. Angelo was chosen by the Knights of St. John as the most important fortification, it was thoroughly restored, reinforced and remodeled. The construction of the D'Homedes Bastion, the Ferromolina Cavalier and the De Guirial Battery made the fort an impregnable stronghold, which was proven during the Great Siege of 1565. In the 1690s, the fort was thoroughly renovated again by knight and architect Carlos de Grunenbergh. The fort was given its current appearance and became a powerful guardian of the Grand Harbour thanks to its 48 cannons. In 1800, the British army took possession of the fort and stationed two battalions there. In the early 20th century, the Royal Navy took over the fort and it was put into service as a so-called "stone frigate" named HMS Egmont (renamed HMS St. Angelo in 1933). During WWII, the fort managed to withstand all attacks, despite 69 direct hits. After the Royal Navy abandoned the fort in 1979, it fell into disrepair. In 1998, the Knights of St. John returned to the fort when a 99-year treaty was signed between Malta and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, granting the upper part of Fort St. Angelo to the Order with limited extraterritoriality. Between 2012 and 2015, the fort was thoroughly restored, so that today visitors can once again enjoy this very impressive guardian of the Grand Harbour in...

"The Holy Land to Malta: In The Footsteps of the Order of St John" Fort San Angelo

What an outstanding experience! The volunteer reenactors were realistic and superb and in such a uniquely appropriate environment such as Fort San Angelo, it was even more impressive.

Our (3PM Sunday) guide was extremely knowledgable and the actors not only credible, but knowledgable. The highlight of the event was the closing siege where many muskets were fired and the final battle dramatically took place. My eardrums will never be the same.

I learned so much about the Order of St John's and the history of Malta during our stay, but especially during the 90+ minute tour of medieval life and death at Fort St Andrea. I look forward to learning much more and possibly becoming involved myself at some point if practical.

The fort itself is nothing special on the inside, having been renovated using some fairly modern techniques and materials. However, the outside of the fort and views of Valletta across the harbor from the fort were in-fact quite spectacular.

Entrance was free the day we were there, but prices are normally a bit high (€5 - €8), in my opinion, for just the fort itself. It was the reenactment that was the highlight of the visit.

CombatCritic Gives From Fort San Angelo and "The Holy Land to Malta: In The Footsteps of the Order of St John" 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More...

Fort St. Angelo was built by Sicilian overlords; and, in 1245, was their stronghold. In 1530, the Knights of St. John remodeled the Fort tremendously, making it an impenetrable fortress. Fort St. Angelo played a crucial role in The Great Siege of 1565 when the Ottoman Empire tried to take Malta for their own. Suleiman The Magnificent sent 35,000–40,000 sailors and soldiers. Less than 2100 Knights and soldiers from Spain, Italy, Sicily, and Greece, with an additional 6100 militia servants and galley slaves. After four months of brutal fighting, the Knights prevailed, and Malta was saved. Fort St. Angelo was the Royal Navy’s headquarters in World War II. The fort suffered 69 direct bomb hits but has survived to this day. This is a fascinating place to visit and learn the history of Malta and the Grand Harbor. The views from the Fort are unparalleled in Malta. On a clear day, which is most, you can see the Citadel of the Silent City, Mdina, to the west. Occasionally Sicily is visible as well. The is a nice kiosk on one of the upper levels for a snack or cold drink, beer, or wine. Take the time to visit this Heritage Malta destination, and don’t forget your camera. Hours are seven days a week,...