description Fort St. Elmo Overview
Fort St. Elmo is a star fort at the tip of the Sciberras Peninsula in Valletta, Malta, built by the Knights Hospitaller in 1552 to guard the entrances to Marsamxett and Grand Harbour. It was the focus of the Ottoman siege of Malta in 1565, during which it withstood sustained bombardment before falling to the attacking forces. The fort’s resistance is considered a key episode in the broader Hospitaller defense that ultimately prevented the Ottomans from securing the island.
Later integrated into the fortified city of Valletta, the site now houses the National War Museum.
insights Ranking position
Fort St. Elmo ranks #177 of 346 in the Castle ranking, behind Akershus Fortress, ahead of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle.
help Fort St. Elmo FAQ
Why was Fort St. Elmo so important during the Great Siege of Malta?
The fort controlled the entrances to both Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour. Its defenders resisted the Ottoman army for about a month in 1565, buying crucial time for the Knights Hospitaller elsewhere on Malta.
Did Fort St. Elmo survive the 1565 siege intact?
No. The original fort was devastated and nearly all of its defenders were killed before the Ottomans captured it, but the costly assault weakened and delayed the attacking force.
What can visitors see inside Fort St. Elmo today?
The restored fort houses Malta's National War Museum. Its displays cover periods ranging from prehistoric warfare to the Great Siege and Malta's role in the Second World War.
Was Fort St. Elmo built before Valletta?
Yes. The Knights Hospitaller built the fort in 1552, while construction of the fortified city of Valletta began after the Great Siege of 1565.
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