Fort St. Angelo (Maltese: Forti Sant’Anġlu or Fortizza Sant’Anġlu) is a historic bastioned fort located in Birgu, Malta, at the heart of the Grand Harbour. This iconic landmark, originally constructed in the medieval period as a castle known as Castrum Maris (English: Castle by the Sea; Italian: Castello al Mare), has stood as a testament to Malta’s strategic and cultural significance for centuries.
Between the 1530s and 1560s, the Order of Saint John transformed the medieval castle into a formidable bastioned fort, renaming it Fort Saint Angelo. The fort gained enduring fame during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, serving as the Order’s headquarters and playing a pivotal role in the defence against the Ottoman Empire.
In the 1690s, a major reconstruction led by Carlos de Grunenbergh, a military engineer, gave the fort its present-day appearance. The blend of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque influences seen in the fort’s architecture reflects its evolving role over centuries as a military stronghold and a symbol of resilience and heritage. Today, Fort St. Angelo remains one of Malta’s most significant historical and cultural treasures.
