Fortifications Interpretation Centre, Military architecture museum in St Mark Street, Valletta, Malta.
The Fortifications Interpretation Centre occupies a 16th-century building and displays scale models plus informational panels explaining Malta's defensive structures. The exhibition covers different phases of fortification development from their origins to modern times.
The building was constructed between 1582 and 1595 under Grand Master Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle and served multiple purposes before becoming a military architecture museum in 2013. This transformation connects its original function with its current role in educating visitors.
The center shows how architects and engineers worked together to build the fortifications that protected Malta's people over many centuries. Visitors can observe how construction methods changed over time and what solutions were used to defend against attacks.
The center is located near St Mark Street and is easy to reach on foot, with clear signage throughout the building. Plan for about one to two hours for a comfortable walk through the exhibition.
The museum preserves a functioning drawbridge from the 17th century that once belonged to Valletta's Porta Reale. This piece is one of Malta's rare surviving examples of medieval defensive mechanisms and shows the technical skill of that era.
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