Fort St. Angelo

Probably the oldest standing fort in Malta, Fort St. Angelo may be visited in Birgu (Vittoriosa).  Although most historians claim that the Fort was built in the 12th century, another school of thought claim its erection might date back to the Arab occupation of Malta between 828 A.D. and 870 A.D.  Fort St Angelo was the Knights’ headquarters and the conventual residence of the Order

In 1533 Grand Master Philippe Villiers de I’Isle Adam strengthened the fort while the Grand Prior of Toulouse increased the fortifications  by adding a bastion on the Kalkara Creek side.  In 1541 Grand Master D’Homedes built a cavalier overlooking Marsamxetto Harbour. Grand Master Jean Parisote de la Valette built a battery practically at sea level, the effectiveness of which was confirmed during the Great Siege of 1565.

Fort St. Angelo served as a state prison for the Order, utilized by the Knights in 1581 to imprison Grand Master Jean de la Cassiere.  Knights and Maltese soldiers who fell during the 1565 Siege and victims of the 1676 plague are also buried in the Fort.  On the 8th September, a public holiday in Malta (Feast of our Lady of Victories) the Maltese pay tribute to the victims buried there.

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