Top Historic Sites in Malta
The Knights Hospitaller ruled Malta and nearby Gozo for almost 300 years -between 1530 and 1798.
The Knights, a Crusader order, had been expelled from the Holyland during the Crusades and then their retreat in the island of Rhodes in the eastern Mediterranean.
They were offered sanctuary on Malta by the Spanish Crown, at the time Europe’s premier power and a fierce opponent of the Ottomans.
During this period, the strategic and military importance of the island grew greatly as the small yet efficient fleet of the Order of Saint John launched their attacks from this new base targeting the shipping lanes of the expanding Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean Sea.
Many of Malta’s historic sites have their roots in this historic time.Here are the Top Three.
1. Grand Master’s Palace
The first building to be constructed by the Knights of St John in the new capital city and enlarged over the years, the Palace is a state within an edifice. During the British period, it served as the Governor’s Palace and was the seat of Malta’s first constitutional parliament in 1921. Presently, the Palace is the seat of the Office of the President of Malta.
The Palace, a state within a building, was the first structure built by the Knights of St John in the new capital city and was expanded over time. It displays the Piano Nobile hallways, the Uccelliera, and the renovated State Rooms, which include the Grand Master’s Study Room
Now granting access to over eighty-five percent of the building’s footprint, the overhauled Grand Master’s Palace showcases the rediscovered Uccelliera, the Piano Nobile corridors, and the meticulously restored State Rooms, including the Grand Master’s Study/Sitting Room, the Throne Room, Pages’ Room, and the Ambassadors’ Room.
Among the distinguished collections in the State Rooms, visitors may enjoy the most comprehensive visual narrative of the Great Siege of 1565 painted by Matteo Perez d’Aleccio, and the late 18th century Baroque illusionistic ceiling paintings, which reflect the pageantry and grandeur of the Grand Masters who indulged in imitating the great aristocratic courts of Europe.
Part of the Palace’s restoration entailed the reinstatement of the historic Armoury in its original hall (the former Parliament Chamber). Showcasing the opulence of the Order of St John – fierce defender of the Catholic faith against the attacks of the Ottoman Empire – the Armoury collection is considered as one of the best in the world, and boasts the armour suits of Grand Masters Alof de Wignacourt and Jean de Valette, Ottoman armour and weapons, as well as a selection of artillery pieces.
The Grand Master’s Palace is the most visited site in Malta welcoming around 300,000 visitors each year.
2. Fort St Elmo
Known as Malta’s star Fort, this architectural masterpiece is best known for the starring role it played during the Great Siege.
Situated in Valletta and boasting magnificent views of the Grand Harbour, Fort St Elmo is a treasure trove of artefacts, military paraphernalia, and insights into Malta’s rich history.
Built by the Knights in 1552 in just four months, this majestic fort bore the brunt of Ottoman arms during the Great Siege of Malta. It also received its fair share of bombardment during World War ll.
Within the Fort’s majestic walls is a chapel, the resting place of knights who fought to the death whilst protecting the altar of the Chapel of St. Anne, during the Great Siege. The Fort is also home to the magnificent National War Museum, where one can see the George Cross, as well as aircraft wreckage, weapons, and various military vehicles. Not just a military fiend’s utopia, the Fort is a must-see for anyone wishing to be dazzled by architectural splendour, and those wishing to immerse themselves in Malta’s vast and vivid past!
3. Fort St Angelo
Adorning the Grand Harbour in the city of Birgu, this splendid fort is credited as being the most noteworthy in Maltese History used by the Knights of St. John as a stronghold against the Ottomans. However, this is only part of its intriguing past!
Long before the arrival of the Knights of St. John, it was a medieval castle known as Castrum Maris. Sadly, due to a lack of documentation, little is known about the old castle, bar the fact that it was built before 1240. The name Birgu, however, comes from il Borgo del Castello, or the City outside the Castle.
Upon their arrival on the island in 1530, the Knights of St. John made modifications to Castrum Maris to serve its purpose as a fort, introducing bastions and alas destroying many of its original ramparts in the process.
The Fort again underwent changes in the 1690s, and again after being heavily bombarded during World War ll.
With four of the Grandmasters buried in its chapels, the Fort is even said to be haunted by the mysterious ‘Grey Lady’, an inhabitant of the castle who was executed there!
Destination – Malta
