Malta's Fort Saint Elmo

In the very north of Valletta, above the Sciberras peninsula, lies the imposing Fort Saint Elmo, a monument which has witnessed and been centre stage of many important moments in Malta's history.

The Aragonese who had reigned in Malta built a defensive keep between the ports of Grand Harbour and Marsamxett. In 1533, the Knights of Saint John used this to build Fort Saint Elmo, which was endowed with military-style architecture and a star shape to protect themselves from any would-be attackers.

The Great Siege of Malta

In 1565, the Ottoman troops tried to conquer Malta by entering through Valletta. There, they were met with a loyal resistance of knights, who launched an attack from Fort Saint Elmo in an attempt to slow the Turkish advance.

The fort held for 30 days and was the setting for some terrible battles. In total, around 1,500 knights and Maltese died, as well as more than 4,000 Turks. The bravery and resistance shown by the Maltese knights eventually brought them victory over the Turks, as well as economic assistance from various European countries.

Thanks to these investments, the knights rebuilt the Fort of Saint Elmo, which soon became the most symbolic monument in all of Valletta.

Visit Fort Saint Elmo

Fort Saint Elmo is a must-see monument, which has played a huge role in Malta's history. The structure of the fort remains mostly intact, making for a very interesting walk around the inside to discover its sheer magnitude.

Currently, the fort is home to Malta's police academy and the War Museum. Fort Saint Elmo was also the setting for the famous movie 'The Midnight Express'.

Inside the fort, you can take in some incredible views from the watchtowers. From here, you'll be able to see the Grand Harbour and Valletta. As well as this, you'll be able to check out the old rooms where artillery and cannons were stored and where the Knights of the Order used to stay when they lived in the fort.

The War Museum

During the Second World War, Fort Saint Elmo bore Italian and German aerial bombings, and the Maltese people were awarded the Cross of St. George.

Due to its symbolism of being a centre of defence, Fort Saint Elmo is home to the National War Museum. Among the weapons that are on display, it's renowned for its aeroplanes, munitions, motorbikes and other World War II artefacts.

Inside the museum, you can also see examples of original uniforms worn by the Maltese navy and aerial troops during the war. The War Museum also houses displays of prehistoric weapons which have been found at various archaeological dig sites.