Fort Saint-Ange

The place

Fort Saint Angelo is a bastioned fort located in Birgu (Vittoriosa), in the heart of the Grand Harbour of Malta. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages: a castle known as Castrum Maris ('Castle of the Sea') is documented as early as the 13th century. When the Order of St. John settled in Malta in 1530, it rebuilt and fortified the site, which became a bastioned fort serving as the headquarters for the Order between 1530 and 1560. As such, it played a major role during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, before being extensively redesigned at the end of the 17th century according to the plans of the engineer Carlos de Grunenbergh. Occupied by the Royal Navy during the first half of the 20th century, it is now managed by Heritage Malta and open for visits.