Iconic landmarks for the Maltese skyline: Fort St Angelo
History and present of the bastioned fort at the center of the Grand Harbour
TBFILFort Saint Angelo, Malta
The site attracted attention since antiquity, in particular following the Islands’ colonisation and insertion in the then prevailing trading routes by the Phoenicians during the first half of the first
Plaque commemorating Count RogerFort Saint Angelo, Malta
Legend has it that Count Roger founded a chapel there in honour of Archangel Michael (St Angelo) following the Norman Conquest in 1091
MELITA Insula, quam hodie MALTAM uocant,... (detail)Fort Saint Angelo, Malta
The thirteenth century provides the earliest known documentary references and description of the then medieval castle.
By 1274, Fort St Angelo or castrum maris as known at the time, consisted of two enclosures, namely a lower castro exteriore and an upper castro interior, each demarcated by an entrance stiffened with round towers
Sovereign Military Order of Malta - Arch detailFort Saint Angelo, Malta
After 1530 the new tenants of the Maltese islands turned the castrum maris, christened Fort St Angelo, into their headquarters.
It was remodeled extensively the then aging castle with the construction of a series of artillery platforms.
Grunenburgh's BastionsFort Saint Angelo, Malta
In the 1690s the Flemish military engineer Carlos Grunenburgh spearheaded its transformation into a forceful work.
This included four intimidating gun platforms with a staggering capacity of some 50 artillery pieces aimed at the entrance of the Grand Harbour.
Royal Navy UniformFort Saint Angelo, Malta
In 1906 the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet relocated its command hub inside the Fort.
It was enlisted as shore base, first renamed HMS Egmont in 1912 and HMS St Angelo in 1933.
WWII bomb that fell on Fort St AngeloFort Saint Angelo, Malta
Fort St Angelo was called into action again during World War II to offer protection against the ruthless Axis air raids
Fort St Angelo barbequinFort Saint Angelo, Malta
Fashioned around a strategically located and conveniently sized hillock at the tip of the Birgu peninsula, the present fabric is the net sum of countless modifications and additions over several centuries, if not millennia.
Main Gate of Fort St AngeloFort Saint Angelo, Malta
Iron Gun - detailFort Saint Angelo, Malta
At the rear of D’Homedes bastions is a solidly built cavalier known as the Ferramolino’s cavalier. Designed by the military engineer Ferramolino.
It was built between 1542 and 1547, this towering artillery platform contains three adjoining casemates.
The Ferramolino cavalier was built as a counter-bombardment station intended to confront attacks from Mount Sceberras and Santa Margherita heights.
Gunpowder MagazineFort Saint Angelo, Malta
By and large, the most meaningful innovations in warfare technology and defence strategies that marked the Early Modern Period are reflected in the Fort’s multi-layered fabric.
Gunpowder MagazineFort Saint Angelo, Malta
Besides a noteworthy corpus of iron guns, the fort preserves a host of complementary gunpowder magazines and related amenities.
Chapel of the Nativity of the Blessed VirginFort Saint Angelo, Malta
A 13th century chapel excavated in the Fort’s rock dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.
Plaque commemorating Count RogerFort Saint Angelo, Malta
A marble tablet inside the chapel indicates that this sanctuary was built in 1090.
Chapel of the Nativity of the Blessed VirginFort Saint Angelo, Malta
It was heavily damaged during World War II air raid with two of its main icons destroyed.
The two side altars cut in rocks are dedicated to St. Angelo and St. Barbara.
Inscriptions inside the GuvaFort Saint Angelo, Malta
This damp underground cell, famous for its unique graffiti served as a reformatory space to convicted knights and occasionally housed knights awaiting trials.
It is believed that artist Caravaggio and Grand Master La Cassiere were imprisoned in here. The oldest graffiti dates back to August 7, 1532.
Great Siege MemorialFort Saint Angelo, Malta
A raised platform marking the burial site of Knights who lost their lives during the Great Siege of 1565 and victims of the plague in 1676.
The remains inside this cemetery were moved in 1591 and reburied in a memorial adjacent to St John’s Co-Cathedral.
Royal Navy UniformFort Saint Angelo, Malta
In 1998 the Sovereign Military order of Malta made a return to Fort St Angelo after an absence of 200 years.
St Anne's ChapelFort Saint Angelo, Malta
The Magisterial Palace, St. Anne’s Chapel and the adjoining terraces have since been beautifully restored.
It turned into a fitting home for the only resident Knight on the Island.
