Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum

Notice: As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance Fort St Elmo, the Harbour Fire Command , the Bofors Gun Experience and WWI Display in Section 4 of the National War Museum are temporarily closed until further notice . Other areas of the fort remain open and continue to offer visitors a rich and engaging journey through Malta’s military history. We thank you for your understanding as we continue to care for this historic site and work towards improving the visitor experience. Originally intended as a war machine, the fort was built in a strategic location at the tip of the Sceberras peninsula to face and hold back the wrath of the Ottoman armada. Offering unobstructed panoramic views of the harbours and the surrounding towns and villages, this key position was already recognised and exploited during the Medieval period. Reference to a permanent watch-post at Santo Eramo can in fact, be found in the Militia Roster of 1417. Following a harsh Ottoman razzia in 1551, and various reports ind