Fort St Angelo, Medieval fortress in Birgu, Malta
Fort St Angelo is a limestone fortress at the tip of the Birgu peninsula overlooking the Grand Harbour of Malta. The complex includes several levels with towers, ramparts, and a castle courtyard that show different building phases.
A medieval tower was built in the 13th century, then the Knights of Saint John expanded the fortress in the 16th century for defense against the Ottoman Empire. The British converted the site into a naval base in the 19th century.
The name comes from Saint Michael, patron of the fortress, whose chapel still stands inside. Visitors see cannons along the ramparts and guard posts that show how soldiers defended the harbor over centuries.
The climb to the upper ramparts requires sturdy shoes because of stairs and uneven stone paths. On sunny days a hat helps, as only a few areas in the courtyards offer shade.
A small area in the upper part legally belongs to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and not to the Republic of Malta. This status makes the fortress one of the few places in Europe with such an arrangement.
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