Fort St Angelo

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Fort St Angelo is a large fortification in Birgu, Malta.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early Medieval Period 1.2 Knights of Malta 1.3 British Period 1.4 Present day 2 Access to the site 3 References

[edit] History

[edit] Early Medieval Period

The date of its original construction is unknown and may date back to Roman times. It certainly existed in the early medieval period. The remains of a tower that may date back to the 11th century when Malta was under Arab control can be traced among the more recent works. From the 14th century the Maltese Islands were under Aragonese rule and the fortification was known as Castello A Mare (Castle by the sea) and it was home to the powerful Nava family, feudal lords of the island.

[edit] Knights of Malta

When the the Knights of Malta arrived in Malta in 1530, they chose to settle in Birgu, and Fort St Angelo became the seat of the Grand Master. The Knights made this their primary fortification and substantially reinforced and remodelled it. Fort St Angelo withstood the Turks during the Siege of Malta, though in the aftermath of that siege the Knights built the fortified city of Valletta on Mount Sciberras across the other side of Grand Harbour, and the administrative centre for the knights moved there.

[edit] British Period

With the coming of the British to Malta the fort retained its importance as a military installation, and the fort was listed as a ship, originally in 1912 as HMS Egremont, but in 1933 renamed as HMS St Angelo.

[edit] Present day

Today parts of the fort are leased to the Order of the Knights of St John. Other parts are used as a maritime Museum.

The fortification has also undergone some recent repair^[1], though not all parties seem to view this as having been done sympathetically to the site^[2]

[edit] Access to the site

Presently the majority of the site is accessible to the public, only part of the top level of the fort is restricted access.

Fort St. Angelo, as seen from Valletta	West face of the fort, from Dockyard Creek	Main Gate	West face of the seaward bastion
Inscription over the gate	Chapel	Bell	The fort from Senglea

Coordinates: 35°53′31″N, 14°31′6″E

[edit] References

1. ^ Ministary of Resources & Infrastructure. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
2. ^ Malta Today interview with Mario Farrugia of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, The Malta Heritage Trust. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.