Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum

About the museum

Fort St Elmo stands at the tip of the Sceberras peninsula, where Valletta now lies, and was built to hold back the Ottoman fleet. A watch-post at Santo Eramo is mentioned as early as 1417. After an Ottoman raid in 1551 Grand Master De Homedes ordered a fort to be built, and the military engineer Pietro Prato raised a star-shaped fort in 1552. In 1565 it bore the brunt of the Ottoman attack during the Great Siege: the small garrison held out for a month and surrendered on 23 June. In the 17th and 18th centuries barracks, a church and a lighthouse were added, and in 1689 the whole fort was included within the fortifications of Valletta.

Under British rule the fort was extensively upgraded for new artillery, and in the Second World War it took part in the defence of Malta; on 11 June 1940 it suffered the first aerial bombardment of the islands. This long record of sieges and battles made it a fitting home for the National War Museum. Fort St Elmo opened to the public in 2015.

Visitors can explore the grounds, which include the Abercrombie casemates and bastion, the Piazza d’Armi, a gunpowder store, the Harbour Fire Command and the two chapels dedicated to St Anne. The National War Museum covers 7,000 years of Maltese military history from the Bronze Age to Malta’s accession to the EU, with the Second World War best represented. Highlights include the Gloster Sea Gladiator “Faith”, President Roosevelt’s jeep “Husky” and the George Cross awarded to Malta; a war memorial holds many medals for bravery. The ticket covers both the fort and the museum.

Highlights

• National War Museum in seven sections, from the Bronze Age to the EU accession
• Gloster Sea Gladiator “Faith”, Roosevelt’s jeep “Husky” and the George Cross
• Fort grounds with the Abercrombie casemates, a submarine walkway and the Piazza d’Armi
• Views over the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour
• “In Guardia” show on Sundays (see the Heritage Malta schedule)

Permanent exhibitions

• National War Museum – Seven sections on 7,000 years of Maltese military history, with armour of the Order of St John and the Ottomans, aircraft and vehicles of the Second World War, and a war memorial.
• Fort grounds – The Abercrombie casemates and bastion, the submarine walkway, the gunpowder store, the Piazza d’Armi and the chapels of St Anne.

Founded

2015

Operated by

Heritage Malta

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers both the fort and the National War Museum. Heritage Malta members and passport holders enter free, as do ICOM card holders, press card holders, licensed guides and holders of the local teachers’ card. Local primary and secondary schools can book free visits.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The reception is step-free or reached by a ramp, and the turnstiles include one for wheelchairs and pushchairs. A lift gives access to the first-floor museum, and chair lifts are installed. Only a few areas are reached by stairs alone: the first floor of the Abercrombie Bastion, the Harbour Fire Command, the cavalier roof, the prison cells and Section 6 of the museum. A free wheelchair service is offered, and there are separate toilets for people with disabilities. Guide dogs are allowed; other pets are not.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The site has a pushchair-friendly turnstile and nappy changers in some of the toilets. The museum has interactive audiovisual stations and a virtual reality experience.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is at street level on Mediterranean Street and is marked with Heritage Malta banners. Horse-drawn carriages and taxis also serve the fort.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

Gift shop at reception and a second shop on the main piazza that sells drinks and light snacks, with seating outside. Lockers are free. There are four restrooms, with nappy changers in some.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit