Fort St Angelo

Fort St Angelo occupies the end of the Birgu peninsula in the Three Cities, directly across the Grand Harbour from Valletta. A stronghold known as Castrum Maris, the castle by the sea, stood here by 1274. After 1530 the Order of St John renamed it Fort St Angelo and made it their headquarters, adding artillery platforms that brought the bastioned system of defence to the islands. The fort played a major role during the Great Siege of 1565.

Its story did not stop with the Knights. In 1689 the military engineer Carlos Grunenbergh turned it into a heavy coastal battery. From 1906 the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet ran its command hub here, and the fort was commissioned as a shore base, HMS Egmont in 1912 and HMS St Angelo in 1933. It took 69 direct hits in the Second World War and remained a Royal Navy establishment until the last foreign forces marched out in March 1979. Caravaggio was also imprisoned here in 1608, before his escape from Malta.

What you see today

An interpretation centre tells the fort's history with dioramas and immersive displays, and the ramparts give wide views of the harbour and the fortified towns. Under an agreement with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the upper fort, with the Magistral Palace, the Keep and the Chapel of St Anne, is open to visitors. Heritage Malta suggests about two hours.

Hours, tickets and access (as of November 2026)

• As of November 2026, check Heritage Malta's current timetable before visiting. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing; holiday closures also apply.
• Tickets are EUR 10 for adults, EUR 6 for youths, seniors and students, EUR 4 for children (6 to 11), with infants free.
• The upper fort is reached only by steps. Electric vehicles help wheelchair users across the lower areas, except in bad weather.

The nicest way to arrive is by water: Heritage Malta notes a ferry and water taxis from Valletta, weather permitting. The nearest bus stop is about ten minutes' walk away. Combine the fort with the Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu's old streets, and check whether your dates overlap with Birgufest in Birgu.