Fortifications of Birgu, Medieval fortification system in Birgu, Malta.
The defensive complex extends over six kilometers, incorporating ten limestone bastions and seven gates protecting the maritime settlement of Birgu.
The Knights of Saint John transformed the original Castrum Maris into Fort Saint Angelo in 1530, establishing their headquarters and initiating extensive fortification construction.
The fortifications earned Birgu the name Vittoriosa after successfully resisting the Ottoman forces during the 1565 Great Siege of Malta.
Visitors can explore the fortifications through guided tours, accessing multiple entrance points including the Baroque-style Couvre Porte Gate and Advanced Gate.
The main ditch beneath the bastions contains a network of rock-carved shelters, created to protect residents during World War II aerial bombardments.
Location: Birgu
Inception: 1691
GPS coordinates: 35.88611,14.52300
Latest update: March 8, 2025 18:06
The Bishop’s Palace and Curia
136 m
Inquisitor's Palace
125 m
St. Lawrence's Church, Vittoriosa
197 m
Malta Maritime Museum
277 m
Auberge d'Angleterre
233 m
Auberge de France
266 m
Auberge d'Allemagne
234 m
Auberge d'Auvergne et Provence
265 m
Auberge de Castille et Portugal
256 m
Malta at War Museum
96 m
Birgu Clock Tower
234 m
Auberge d'Aragon
264 m
Chapel of Our Lady of Damascus, Birgu
204 m
Church of the Annunciation
105 m
Church of the Madonna of the Guardian Angels
301 m
Niche of the Madonna of the Rosary
177 m
Statue of St. Lawrence
205 m
Couvre Porte Counterguard - Birgu
91 m
Oratory of the Fraternity of St. Joseph
188 m
Advanced Gate
60 m
Birgu Main Gate
33 m
Couvre Porte Barracks
87 m
National Museum of Ethnography
125 m
Couvre Porte Gate
95 m
Main Ditch - Birgu
131 m
St John Bastion - Birgu
32 m
Niche of St. Dominic
13 m
Niche of St. Lawrence
252 mReviews
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