Fort St Angelo

Fort St Angelo occupies the tip of the Birgu (Vittoriosa) peninsula on Xatt l-Assedju l-Kbir in the south-east of the Grand Harbour, Malta. Its origins stretch back to medieval times, and from 1530 it served as the headquarters of the Knights of St John, who strengthened it before the Great Siege of 1565. It remained a military site through British rule and, in the Second World War, was used by the Royal Navy as HMS St Angelo. Heritage Malta has restored the fort and opened it to visitors, who enter across a bridge and move up through stone courtyards and terraces to the upper ramparts. Along the route are the Knights' chapel, the Grand Master's rooms, cells and gun emplacements, with exhibitions explaining the fort's layers of use. The views are the main reward: from the top, visitors look across the Grand Harbour to Valletta's bastions and domes, and over the creeks of Birgu and Senglea. A visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Photographers favour the sea-facing bastions at the tip, where the Valletta skyline fills the frame, and the sunset hour is popular for this reason. The fort can be reached by buses from Valletta or by Seabus from Lascaris Wharf, followed by a walk of about 10 minutes through Birgu's old streets. Morning visits are cooler and quieter, since much of the route is exposed to the sun. Birgu's other Heritage Malta sites, including the Inquisitor's Palace, are close, so many visitors combine them over a half-day. Opening hours are seasonal and normally run from 09:00 to 17:00 with last admission at 16:30, but these should be confirmed on the Heritage Malta website.