The Auberge de Castille is considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in Valetta. Designed by Maltese respected architect Girolamo Cassar in 1574 the Auberge is located at the highest spot of Valetta. A great view of Floriana and the Grand Harbour opens in front of the visitors’ eyes from the building’s territory. Today the auberge houses the Office of the Maltese Prime Minister.
The Cottonera Lines are grand defensive constructions of over 4 km of total length, erected to protect the cities of Birgu (also called Vittoriosa), Senglea (Isla) and Cospicua (Bormla). Together with the older Santa Margherita Lines, it makes a double belt of powerful walls, bastions and gates, protecting the Three cities and the Grand Harbor of Malta. The initial construction embraced eight bastions, two demi-bastions and seven gates, although currently only six bastions and the same number of gates are available for tourists.
The characteristic feature of Maltese landscape is the abundance of towers, walls and other fortifications built during numerous attacks of Turkish army in the 14th - 16th century. The perimeter of the island is surrounded by series of thirteen small watchtowers named De Redin Towers.
Throughout the years Delimara Lighthouse located at Delimara cliff edge acted as a beacon to the Maltese shipping industry. Apart from its splendid location, perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the Delimara lighthouse is that it is the only one in Malta to be equipped with the unique Fresnel Lens.
The Fort Manoel is settled on the Manoel Island, located in the center of Marsamxett Harbour, to the North-West of Valetta. It was built by the Knights Hospitallier to protect Northern Valetta’s bastions, the point from which you can admire the picturesque view of the entire island and the Fort, in particular. Being a great sample of Baroque style it became both a strong military construction and an architectural gem of the terrain.
Although labeled as a fort in most Maltese guidebooks, in fact this fortification is an artillery battery of the Victorian era, which is widely known for its world's largest muzzle-loading Armstrong gun. Being in a state of fair preservation, Fort Rinella attracts tourists with its interesting exposition of weapons and spectacular theatrical performances, showing everyday life of the XIX century garrison.
Being a jewel of the Vittoriosa landscapes for many centuries, the Fort Saint Angelo is located at the centre of the Grand Harbour, in Birgu. The Fort has been playing an important role in rebuffing numerous enemy attacks at Malta from the most long-ago ages. The biggest impact made to the fortification of the settlement was made by the Knights of St.John’s Order. Since 1998 the Fort Saint Angelo was included in the list of UNESCO Heritage Sites as the treasure of Knights’ fortifications on Malta’s territories.
Saint Elmo`s fort is one of the most important fortifications of Malta. Separating the Harbor of Marsamxett from Grand Harbor, in the Medieval period the fort guarded the entrances to them, protecting the small island state from constant attacks of the Ottoman army.
The fortifications of Birgu are a grand defensive construction around the city, including several bastions, batteries, ditches and walls, initially built by the Knights Hospitaller to protect Malta from expansion of the Ottoman Empire. Nowadays, the powerful fortifications are recognized as a part of Maltese cultural heritage. They attract many tourists, especially those interested in history and military engineering.
Valletta, the capital of Malta, is surrounded by numerous fortifications. In the period of Middle Ages and Renaissance they performed the defensive function, successfully protecting a small island state from enemy armies willing to take possession over its territory.
