The MEPA Board, have given planning permission for extensive restoration works to be carried out, at one of Malta’s most prestigious military forts, Fort St Elmo in Valletta.

The approved restoration works, which excludes the Pinto Stores situated at the Lower Area of the Fort, will also entail the rehabilitation and reuse of the Carafa enceinte as part of a museum complex and heritage route affording views of the entrance to the Grand Harbour.

Works will include the re-pointing, cleaning, the dismantling and rebuilding of dangerous roofs, unblocking of apertures, stone repair and replacement and removal of renders, plasters and paint work and plant disinfestations.

Following restoration works, the fort which today houses the Police Academy premises will be converted into Military History museum, with ancillary facilities including shops and restaurants at ground floor around the Pjazza d’Armi.

The oldest chapel within the fort, near the Porta del Soccorso, is being restored and will be retained as a Church. On the other hand St. Anne’s Church, which had been de-consecrated in the past will be restored and used as a lecture room.

The National War Museum will occupy the western section of the Fort, with a smaller part within the Cavalier and the Fire Command Centre. The Military History research centre will be accommodated at the upper floors of the North and South blocks in the Piazza and the British barracks on the upper level.

A raised walkway is proposed along St Gregory’s Curtain. This will form part of a walk along the ramparts having a total length of over 600 metres and open to the public. This raised walkway will provide views of the Fort on the landward side and views of the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour on the outward.

Several measures are being taken to ensure accessibility for all within different spaces and a number of bridges and lifts will be installed to enhance vertical connectivity.

Fort St Elmo started being built in 1552 on the design of Pietro Pardo. This Fort, situated at the tip of the Sciberras peninsula and commanding the entrance to both the Grand Harbour and that of Marsamxett, was built with the utmost urgency due to an impending Turkish threat. After heavy artillery pounding and attacks over a period of nearly a month, during which the Fort resisted the Ottomans from gaining control of the Fort, it was reduced to shambles and finally surrendered. Soon after the siege the reconstruction of the Fort commenced. The latter included a larger Fort retaining its four pointed star shape with a cavalier protecting the eastern flank.

At the end of the 17th century, the Fort was enclosed in a new enceinte, on the seaward side, by the construction of Caraffa bastions. Fort St Elmo underwent several modifications during the British period including the addition of loophole parapet walls, traverses and reconstruction of parts to accommodate new batteries reflecting advancements in ordnance. In the inter-war period four concrete gun emplacements each with a fire control tower were constructed. A harbour Fire Command Post was constructed on top of the Cavalier. At the outbreak of the Second World War the lighthouse dating back to the Knights period was dismantled for defence purposes.

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