Fort St Elmo
Fort St Elmo features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Valletta. Give it roughly ~90 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type castle
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- Valletta Valletta guide
About Fort St Elmo
The star fort at Valletta's tip that fell after a month's siege in 1565, now the National War Museum, home to Malta's George Cross and the Gladiator 'Faith'.
Fort St Elmo stands at the seaward tip of the Sciberras Peninsula, guarding the entrances to both the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour. The original star fort was built in 1552, to a design associated with the Spanish engineer Pietro Pardo, and was later rebuilt and enlarged. During the Great Siege of 1565 it was assaulted by the Ottoman army and held out for about a month before falling on 23 June; period chronicles record that its garrison was almost annihilated, and its resistance bought time for the Order's other strongholds and for relief forces from Sicily and Spain.
Struck in the first air raid on Malta in June 1940, the fort now houses the National War Museum, first opened in 1975 and reopened in 2015. Its exhibits include the George Cross awarded to Malta in 1942 and the surviving Gloster Sea Gladiator 'Faith'.
Did you know? In the Great Siege of 1565 Fort St Elmo held out about a month before falling on 23 June; by period chronicles only around nine Maltese defenders survived, swimming across the harbour to Fort St Angelo.
How long is a visit to Fort St Elmo?
Set aside roughly ~90 min for Fort St Elmo. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Fort St Elmo worth your time?
Fort St Elmo is among the 14 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Valletta, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Valletta
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Fort St Elmo and read more:
Day 1 of the Valletta in 2 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of Fort St Elmo
Preview the Valletta tour free in the Gingerguide app.