Forts of Malta Built by the Order of St. John and the British


Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Forts

The forts of Malta form one of the densest and most varied military architecture networks in the world, built and expanded over 500 years by the Knights of St John, the British Empire, and earlier rulers. From massive bastioned cities like Valletta to coastal batteries, towers, and WWII positions, these fortifications were designed to control key sea routes and defend the island from siege and invasion. Today they stand as a unique historical landscape showcasing evolving military engineering from the 16th to the 20th century.
Fort name Location Year built Built by Current status
Fort Benghisa Birżebbuġa 1910-1912 UK Intact, neglected
Fort BinġemmaRabat 1875–1878 UK Intact
Fort CampbellMellieħa 1937-1938 UK Ruins
Fort ChambrayGħajnsielem 1749–1760s Order of St John Intact, redeveloped
Fort DelimaraMarsaxlokk 1876-1878 UK Intact, restoration proposed
Fort LeonardoŻabbar 1872–1878 UK Intact, restoration proposed
Fort MadalenaSwieqi 1878–1880 UK Intact, used as a rescue corps headquarters and training school
Fort ManoelGżira 1723–1733 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Fort MellieħaMellieħa 1940's UK Intact, restored
Fort Mosta Mosta 1878–1880s UK Intact, used as an ammunition depot
Fort PembrokePembroke 1875–1878 UK Intact, used as a school
Fort Ricasoli Kalkara 1670–1693 Order of Saint John Intact, neglected
Fort Saint Angelo Birgu 13th century–1690s Order of Saint John Intact, undergoing restoration
Fort St. ElmoValletta 1552–1570s Order of St John Intact, restored
Fort San Lucian Marsaxlokk 1872–1878 UK Intact, used as an aquaculture research centre
Fort Saint Michael Senglea 1552–1581 Order of Saint John Demolished, part of the base survives
Fort Saint Rocco Kalkara 1872–1900 UK Intact
Fort San SalvatoreBirgu 1724 Order of Saint John Intact, neglected
Fort Tas-Silġ Marsaxlokk 1879–1883 UK Intact, used as an animal sanctuary
Fort Tigné Sliema 1793–1795 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Fort Verdala Cospicua 1852–1856 UK Intact, used as housing estates and a school