List of fortifications in Malta
This is a list of fortifications of Malta.
Prehistoric fortifications
Name |
Image |
Location |
Built |
Status |
Bahrija !Baħrija |
|
Rabat !Rabat |
Bronze Age |
Scant remains |
Borg in-Nadur !Borġ in-Nadur |
|
Birzebbuga !Birżebbuġa |
c.1450 BC |
One bastion intact |
Nuffara !Nuffara |
|
Xaghra !Xagħra |
Bronze Age |
Scant remains |
Qortin !Qortin |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
Bronze Age |
Scant remains |
Ras il-Gebel !Ras il-Ġebel |
|
Mgarr !Mġarr |
Bronze Age |
Scant remains |
Wardija ta' San Gorg !Wardija ta' San Ġorġ |
|
Siggiewi !Siġġiewi |
Bronze Age |
Scant remains |
Walled cities
Forts
Name |
Image |
Location |
Built |
Builder |
Status |
Fort Benghisa !Fort Benghisa |
|
Birzebbuga !Birżebbuġa |
1910–1912 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, neglected |
Fort Bingemma !Fort Binġemma |
|
Rabat !Rabat |
1875–1878 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, illegally occupied |
Fort Campbell !Fort Campbell |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1937–1938 |
United Kingdom |
Ruins |
Fort Chambray !Fort Chambray |
|
Ghajnsielem !Għajnsielem |
1749–1760s |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, redeveloped |
Fort Delimara !Fort Delimara |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1876–1888 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restoration proposed |
Fort Leonardo !Fort Leonardo |
|
Zabbar !Żabbar |
1872–1878 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restoration proposed |
Fort Madalena !Fort Madalena |
|
Swieqi !Swieqi |
1878–1880 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, used as a rescue corps headquarters and training school |
Fort Manoel !Fort Manoel |
|
Gzira !Gżira |
1723–1733 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Fort Mellieha !Fort Mellieħa |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1940s |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restored |
Fort Mosta !Fort Mosta |
|
Mosta !Mosta |
1878–1880s |
United Kingdom |
Intact, used as an ammunition depot |
Fort Pembroke !Fort Pembroke |
|
Pembroke !Pembroke |
1875–1878 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, used as a school |
Fort Ricasoli !Fort Ricasoli |
|
Kalkara !Kalkara |
1670–1693 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, neglected |
Fort Saint Angelo !Fort Saint Angelo |
|
Birgu !Birgu |
13th century–1690s |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, undergoing restoration |
Fort Saint Elmo !Fort Saint Elmo |
|
Valletta !Valletta |
1552–1570s |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Fort Saint Lucian !Fort San Lucian |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1872–1878 |
United Kingdom[lower-alpha 2] |
Intact, used as an aquaculture research centre |
Fort Saint Michael !Fort Saint Michael |
|
Senglea !Senglea |
1552–1581 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished, part of the base survives |
Fort Saint Rocco !Fort Saint Rocco |
|
Kalkara !Kalkara |
1872–1900 |
United Kingdom |
Intact |
Fort Saint Salvatore !Fort San Salvatore |
|
Birgu !Birgu |
1724 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, neglected |
Fort Tas-Silg !Fort Tas-Silġ |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1879–1883 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, used as an animal sanctuary |
Fort Tigne !Fort Tigné |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1793–1795 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Fort Verdala !Fort Verdala |
|
Cospicua !Cospicua |
1852–1856 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, used as housing estates and a school |
Towers
Name |
Image |
Location |
Built |
Builder |
Status |
Ahrax Tower !Aħrax Tower |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1658 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, abandoned |
Benghisa Tower !Bengħisa Tower |
|
Birzebbuga !Birżebbuġa |
1659 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Birkirkara Tower !Birkirkara Tower |
|
Birkirkara !Birkirkara |
1550 !c. 16th century |
|
Intact |
Blat Moghza Tower !Blat Mogħża Tower |
|
Mgarr !Mġarr |
1637 !c. 1637 |
Order of Saint John |
Collapsed |
Captain's Tower !Captain's Tower |
|
Naxxar !Naxxar |
1548 !c. 1550s |
Order of Saint John |
Intact |
Cavalier Tower !Cavalier Tower |
|
Qrendi !Qrendi |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Intact |
Delimara Tower !Delimara Tower |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1659 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Dwejra Tower !Dwejra Tower |
|
San Lawrenz !San Lawrenz |
1652 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Garzes Tower !Garzes Tower |
|
Ghajnsielem !Għajnsielem |
1605–1607 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Ghajn Hadid Tower !Għajn Ħadid Tower |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1658 |
Order of Saint John |
Ruins |
Ghajn Tuffieha Tower !Għajn Tuffieħa Tower |
|
Mgarr !Mġarr |
1637 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Ghallis Tower !Għallis Tower |
|
Naxxar !Naxxar |
1658 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Hamrija Tower !Ħamrija Tower |
|
Qrendi !Qrendi |
1659 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Isopu Tower !Isopu Tower |
|
Nadur !Nadur |
1667 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Lippija Tower !Lippija Tower |
|
Mgarr !Mġarr |
1637 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Madliena Tower !Madliena Tower |
|
Pembroke !Pembroke |
1658 |
Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] |
Intact, restored |
Marsalforn Tower !Marsalforn Tower |
|
Xaghra !Xagħra |
1614–1616 |
Order of Saint John |
Collapsed, some ruins remain |
Mgarr ix-Xini Tower !Mġarr ix-Xini Tower |
|
Ghajnsielem !Għajnsielem |
1661 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Nadur Tower !Nadur Tower |
|
Rabat !Rabat |
1637 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact |
Qawra Tower !Qawra Tower |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
1638 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, used as a restaurant |
Saint Agatha Tower !Saint Agatha's Tower |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1647–1649 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact |
Saint George Tower !Saint George's Tower |
|
Saint Julian's !St. Julian's |
1638 |
Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] |
Intact, in the grounds of a hotel |
Saint Julian Tower !Saint Julian's Tower |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1658 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, used as a restaurant |
Saint Lucian Tower !Saint Lucian Tower |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1610–1611 |
Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] |
Intact, used as an aquaculture research centre |
Saint Mark Tower !Saint Mark's Tower |
|
Naxxar !Naxxar |
1658 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Saint Mary Tower !Saint Mary's Tower |
|
Ghajnsielem !Għajnsielem |
1618 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Saint Mary delle Grazie Tower !Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower |
|
Xghajra !Xgħajra |
1620 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Saint Thomas Tower !Saint Thomas Tower |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
1614 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact |
Sciuta Tower !Sciuta Tower |
|
Qrendi !Qrendi |
1638 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restoration planned |
Standard Tower !Torre dello Standardo |
|
Mdina !Mdina |
1725 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact |
Tal-Wejter Tower !Tal-Wejter Tower |
|
Birkirkara !Birkirkara |
1697 !17th or 18th centuries |
Order of Saint John |
Intact |
Triq il-Wiesgha Tower !Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower |
|
Zabbar !Żabbar |
1659 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Wardija Tower !Wardija Tower |
|
Zurrieq !Żurrieq |
1659 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact |
Wignacourt Tower !Wignacourt Tower |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
1610 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, used as a museum |
Xlendi Tower !Xlendi Tower |
|
Munxar !Munxar |
1650 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, undergoing restoration |
Xrobb l-Għaġin Tower !Xrobb l-Għaġin Tower |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1659 |
Order of Saint John |
Ruins |
Zonqor Tower !Żonqor Tower |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
1659 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Notes:
Batteries
Name |
Image |
Location |
Built[lower-alpha 3] |
Builder |
Status |
Ahrax Tower !Aħrax Tower & Battery |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, abandoned |
Arrias Battery !Arrias Battery |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, used as a restaurant |
Balbani Battery !Balbani Battery |
|
Birzebbuga !Birżebbuġa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Bugibba Battery !Buġibba Battery |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished, ditch survives |
Cambridge Battery !Cambridge Battery |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1878–1886 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restoration planned |
Capuchin Convent Battery !Capuchin Convent Battery |
|
Kalkara !Kalkara |
1799 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Corradino Batteries !Corradino Batteries |
|
Paola !Paola |
1798–1799 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Delimara Tower !Delimara Tower & Battery |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1793 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Della Grazie Battery !Della Grazie Battery |
|
Xghajra !Xgħajra |
1888–1893 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restoration planned |
Dellia Battery !Dellia Battery |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Elminiech Battery !Elminiech Battery |
|
Birzebbuga !Birżebbuġa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Fedeau Battery !Fedeau Battery |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Ferretti Battery !Ferretti Battery |
|
Birzebbuga !Birżebbuġa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, used as a restaurant |
Garden Battery !Garden Battery |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1889–1894 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restoration planned |
Ghallis Battery !Għallis Battery |
|
Naxxar !Naxxar |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Ruins |
Gharghar Battery !Għargħar Battery |
|
San Gwann !San Ġwann |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Jesuit Hill Battery !Jesuit Hill Battery |
|
Marsa !Marsa |
1799 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Lascaris Battery !Lascaris Battery |
|
Valletta !Valletta |
1854–1856 |
United Kingdom |
Intact |
Lembi Battery !Lembi Battery |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1757 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Mahsel Battery !Maħsel Battery |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
1714 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Marsa Battery !Marsa Battery |
|
Marsa !Marsa |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Mistra Battery !Mistra Battery |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1761 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Pembroke Battery !Pembroke Battery |
|
Pembroke !Pembroke |
1897–1899 |
United Kingdom |
Partially demolished, one gun emplacement survives. |
Pinto Battery !Pinto Battery |
|
Birzebbuga !Birżebbuġa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Heavily altered |
Qalet Marku Battery !Qalet Marku Battery |
|
Naxxar !Naxxar |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Ruins |
Qawra Tower !Qawra Tower & Battery |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, used as a restaurant and swimming pool |
Qolla l-Bajda Battery !Qolla l-Bajda Battery |
|
Zebbug, Gozo !Żebbuġ, Gozo |
1716 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, abandoned |
Ramla Left Battery !Ramla Left Battery |
|
Xaghra !Xagħra |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Ruins |
Ramla Right Battery !Ramla Right Battery |
|
Nadur !Nadur |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Ruins |
Rihama Battery !Riħama Battery |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
1714 |
Order of Saint John |
Mostly intact, restoration planned |
Rinella Battery !Rinella Battery |
|
Kalkara !Kalkara |
1878–1886 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restored |
Saint Anthony Battery !Saint Anthony's Battery |
|
Qala !Qala |
1731–1732 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Saint Julian Tower !Saint Julian's Tower & Battery |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Battery partially intact, tower intact |
Saint Lucian Tower !Saint Lucian Tower & Battery |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Battery demolished, tower intact |
Saint Mary Battery !Saint Mary's Battery |
|
Ghajnsielem !Għajnsielem |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Saint Mary Battery !Saint Mary's Battery |
|
Zebbug, Gozo !Żebbuġ, Gozo |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished |
Saint Paul Battery !Saint Paul's Battery |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1881–1886 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, abandoned |
Saint Peter Battery !Saint Peter's Battery |
|
Kalkara !Kalkara |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Saint Rocco Battery !San Rocco Battery |
|
Kalkara !Kalkara |
1798–1799 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Saint Thomas Tower !Saint Thomas Tower & Battery |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Tower intact, battery rebuilt on modern interpretative lines. |
Saluting Battery !Saluting Battery |
|
Valletta !Valletta |
1560s |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, restored |
Sliema Batteries !Sliema Batteries |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Sliema Point Battery !Sliema Point Battery |
|
Sliema !Sliema |
1872–1876 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, used as a restaurant |
Spinola Battery !Spinola Battery |
|
Saint Julian's !St. Julian's |
1889–1894 |
United Kingdom |
Demolished |
Ta' Ghemmuna Battery !Ta' Għemmuna Battery |
|
Saint Julian's !St. Julian's |
1799 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Tal-Borg Battery !Tal-Borg Battery |
|
Tarxien !Tarxien |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Targa Battery !Tarġa Battery |
|
Mosta Saint Paul's Bay !Mosta St. Paul's Bay |
1887–1890s |
United Kingdom |
Intact, restoration planned |
Tas-Samra Battery !Tas-Samra Battery |
|
Hamrun !Ħamrun |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished. The church around which the battery was built still exists. |
Tombrell Battery !Tombrell Battery |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1722 |
Order of Saint John |
Demolished, ditch survives |
Vendome Battery !Vendôme Battery |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Intact, dilapidated |
Westreme Battery !Westreme Battery |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Blockhouse intact, gun platform destroyed |
Wied Musa Battery !Wied Musa Battery |
|
Mellieha !Mellieħa |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Gun platform intact, blockhouse heavily altered |
Wignacourt Tower !Wignacourt Tower & Battery |
|
Saint Paul's Bay !St. Paul's Bay |
1715 |
Order of Saint John |
Battery mostly intact, tower intact |
Wilga Battery !Wilġa Battery |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1714 |
Order of Saint John |
Blockhouse intact, gun platform destroyed |
Wolseley Battery !Wolseley Battery |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1897–1899 |
United Kingdom |
Intact |
Zabbar Batteries !Żabbar Batteries |
|
Zabbar !Żabbar |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Zejtun Batteries !Żejtun Batteries |
|
Zejtun !Żejtun |
1798 |
Maltese insurgents |
Demolished |
Zonqor Battery !Żonqor Battery |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
1882–1886 |
United Kingdom |
Intact, used as a farm |
Notes:
- Batteries located within larger fortifications are not included in the above list unless they are notable in their own right. Such batteries include:
- Anti-aircraft batteries built in World War II are also not included.
Redoubts
Entrenchments
Notes:
- Entrenchments were originally planned to be built around the entire coastline of the Maltese Islands. The ones listed here are those of which some remains survive, or which are definitely known to have existed.
Lines of fortification
Notes:
Fortified houses and privately built towers
Name |
Image |
Location |
Built |
Builder |
Status |
Armoury !Armoury |
|
Siggiewi !Siġġiewi |
|
|
Intact |
Bubaqra Tower !Bubaqra Tower |
|
Zurrieq !Żurrieq |
1579 !c. 1579 |
Pisani, Matteolo !Don Matteolo Pisani |
Intact |
Castello Lanzun !Castello Lanzun |
|
San Gwann !San Ġwann |
1400 !15th century–1713 |
Lanzun, Wenzu !Wenzu Lanzun |
Intact |
Gauci Tower !Gauci Tower |
|
Naxxar !Naxxar |
1548 !16th century |
Gauci, Francesco !Francesco Gauci |
Intact |
Gourgion Tower !Gourgion Tower |
|
Xewkija !Xewkija |
1690 !1690 |
Gourgion, Giovanni !Giovanni Gourgion |
Demolished, some stonework survives |
Mamo Tower !Mamo Tower |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
1657 !1657 |
Mamo, Gregorio !Gregorio and Giorgio Mamo |
Intact, restored |
Santa Cecilia Tower !Santa Cecilia Tower |
|
Ghajnsielem !Għajnsielem |
1613 !1613 |
Macedonia, Bernardo !Fra Bernardo Macedonia |
Intact |
Ta' Ingraw Tower !Ta' Ingraw Tower[1] |
|
Zejtun !Żejtun |
1603 !1603 |
Klement Tabone |
Dismantled; stonework used to built farmhouses |
Tal-Mozz Tower !Tal-Mozz Tower[1] |
|
Zejtun !Żejtun |
1628 !1628 |
|
|
Sant Antnin Tower !Sant'Antnin Tower[1] |
|
Zejtun !Żejtun |
|
|
Destroyed during WWII |
Ta' Bettina Tower !Ta' Bettina Tower |
|
Marsaxlokk !Marsaxlokk |
1740 !c. 1740 |
D'Aurel Family |
Intact |
Tal-Buttar Tower !Tal-Buttar Tower |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
|
|
Intact |
Tal-Gardiel Tower !Tal-Gardiel Tower |
|
Marsaskala !Marsaskala |
|
|
Intact |
Verdala Palace !Verdala Palace |
|
Siggiewi !Siġġiewi |
1586 !1586 |
Verdalle, Hugues Loubenx de !Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle |
Intact |
Vincenti Tower !Vincenti Tower |
|
Mqabba !Mqabba |
1726 !1726 |
Vincenzo, Orfeo de !Fra Orfeo de Vincenzo |
Partially intact |
Notes
References