95 pts4 min read🌊 any🟡 medium
Fort St. Angelo in Birgu has been Malta's defensive heart since medieval times. Seat of the Grand Master before Valletta was built. During the Great Siege of 1565, the entire defence was commanded from here.
Malta's defensive heart
Fort St. Angelo rises on the promontory of Birgu (Vittoriosa), one of the Three Cities, facing Valletta across the Grand Harbour. It is probably Malta's oldest fortified site, inhabited since the Bronze Age (c. 2000 BC). The fort in its present form dates mainly from the period of the Knights of Malta (16th-18th centuries).
Command centre of the Great Siege
When the Knights of Malta arrived in 1530, Fort St. Angelo became the seat of Grand Master Jean de la Valette. During the Great Siege of 1565, the fort served as the main command headquarters. From here, de la Valette coordinated the defence of the entire island, watching the battle for Fort St. Elmo across the harbour. After the victory, the knights moved to the newly built Valletta.
His Majesty's Ship
During World War II, the fort was incorporated into the Royal Navy as HMS St. Angelo, serving as the navy's base for the entire Mediterranean. It sustained over 69 direct bomb hits but never fell. After the war it was returned to Malta, restored, and opened to tourists in 2016.
Practical tip: Entry EUR 8. Reach it by water taxi from Valletta (EUR 2, 5 minutes) or by bus to Birgu. The view from the tower across the Grand Harbour is superb. Combine with a walking tour of Birgu.
🧠 Test your knowledge
Which knight commanded the defense from Fort St. Angelo?
Click an answer! +10 bonus pts in-game after check-in.
Tip
Entry EUR 8. The upper level (chapel, Grand Master's quarters) is the best part.
Check in here
You haven't joined the game yet
Gallery
Trails through here
Nearby
🗿40 pts~150 m · ~2 min
Three Cities Waterfront
The Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea, Cospicua) are the cradle of Malta's maritime history. Birgu (Vittoriosa) was the knights' first seat. Senglea (L-Isla) is famous for the Gardjola Gardens with the stone watchful eye.
🏛️15 pts~390 m · ~5 min
Auberge de France (Birgu)
The Auberge de France in Birgu — seat of the Order's most powerful langue, from the era when Birgu (not Valletta) was the Knights' capital. A quiet witness to the age before the Great Siege.
👁️35 pts~410 m · ~5 min
Gardjola Gardens (Senglea)
Gardjola Gardens in Senglea are bastion gardens with an iconic turret carved with eyes and ears "watching over" Grand Harbour. The best view of Valletta from water level.