Fort St. Angelo occupies the very tip of the Vittoriosa peninsula, a massive fortification built in layers from medieval times through the Knights' period and beyond. The Knights of St. John established their headquarters here in 1530 when they arrived from Rhodes, and the fort became the nerve center of their defense during the Great Siege of 1565. Today it is managed by Heritage Malta and open to visitors, who can walk the gun batteries, explore the chapel of St. Anne (believed to be the oldest surviving church in Malta), and take in the sweeping views of the Grand Harbour with Valletta on the opposite shore.
The fort was used as a Royal Navy base well into the twentieth century — it was commissioned as HMS St. Angelo during World War II and was one of the installations that collectively earned Malta the George Cross in 1942. The layers of history are visible in the fabric of the place: medieval walls, Renaissance additions, British naval modifications, all stacked on the same rocky promontory. Allow two hours to see it properly.