List of fortifications in Malta

Map of the fortifications of the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett in 1803.

This is a list of fortifications of Malta.[1]

Prehistoric fortifications
Name Image Location Built Status
Baħrija Rabat Bronze Age Scant remains[2]
Borġ in-Nadur Birżebbuġa c.1450 BC One bastion intact[3]
Nuffara Xagħra Bronze Age Scant remains[2]
Qortin St. Paul's Bay Bronze Age Scant remains[2]
Ras il-Ġebel Mġarr Bronze Age Scant remains[3]
Wardija ta' San Ġorġ Siġġiewi Bronze Age Scant remains[3]

Walled cities
Name Image Location Built Builder Status
Birgu Birgu c.13th–18th centuries Order of Saint John Mostly intact, undergoing restoration
Cittadella Victoria Antiquity–1622[4] Crown of Aragon
Order of Saint John		 Intact. According to Ramon Muntaner (1283) a prominent Aragonite tower existed on the site in the whereabouts of the arch/remains of a Siculo-Norman style villa.[5] A number of outer towers were places outside the Citadel.[6]
Cottonera Lines Cospicua
Birgu		 1670–18th century Order of Saint John Mostly intact[7]
Floriana Lines Floriana 1635–18th century Order of Saint John Mostly intact[8]
Mdina Mdina Antiquity–1746 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Santa Margherita Lines Cospicua 1638–1736 Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] Partially intact
Senglea Senglea 1552–18th century Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] Partially intact
Valletta Valletta 1566–1570s Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] Mostly intact, partially restored

Forts
Name Image Location Built Builder Status
Fort Benghisa Birżebbuġa 1910–1912 United Kingdom Intact, neglected
Fort Binġemma Rabat 1875–1878 United Kingdom Intact, illegally occupied
Fort Campbell Mellieħa 1937–1938 United Kingdom Ruins
Fort Chambray Għajnsielem 1749–1760s Order of Saint John Intact, redeveloped[9]
Fort Delimara Marsaxlokk 1876–1888 United Kingdom Intact, restoration proposed
Fort Leonardo Żabbar 1872–1878 United Kingdom Intact, restoration proposed
Fort Madalena Swieqi 1878–1880 United Kingdom Intact, used as a rescue corps headquarters and training school[10]
Fort Manoel Gżira 1723–1733 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Fort Mellieħa Mellieħa 1940s United Kingdom Intact, restored
Fort Mosta Mosta 1878–1880s United Kingdom Intact, used as an ammunition depot
Fort Pembroke Pembroke 1875–1878 United Kingdom Intact, used as a school
Fort Ricasoli Kalkara 1670–1693 Order of Saint John Intact, neglected
Fort Saint Angelo Birgu 13th century–1690s Order of Saint John Intact, undergoing restoration
Fort Saint Elmo Valletta 1552–1570s Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Fort San Lucian Marsaxlokk 1872–1878 United Kingdom[lower-alpha 2] Intact, used as an aquaculture research centre
Fort Saint Michael Senglea 1552–1581 Order of Saint John Demolished, part of the base survives
Fort Saint Rocco Kalkara 1872–1900 United Kingdom Intact
Fort San Salvatore Birgu 1724 Order of Saint John Intact, neglected
Fort Tas-Silġ Marsaxlokk 1879–1883 United Kingdom Intact, used as an animal sanctuary
Fort Tigné Sliema 1793–1795 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Fort Verdala Cospicua 1852–1856 United Kingdom Intact, used as housing estates and a school

Towers
Name Image Location Built Builder Status
Castro Interiore Birgu c. 1274 Angevins Modified[11]
Birgu Clock Tower Birgu Medieval-Order of St John Modified to be used as a clock tower and then destroyed in WWII
Burmarrad Tower Burmarrad 1494 Replaced by another tower in 1618 in the close proximity[12]
Aħrax Tower Mellieħa 1658 Order of Saint John Intact, abandoned
Bengħisa Tower Birżebbuġa 1659 Order of Saint John Demolished
Birkirkara Tower Birkirkara c. 16th century Intact
Blat Mogħża Tower Mġarr c. 1637 Order of Saint John Collapsed
Captain's Tower Naxxar c. 1550s Order of Saint John Intact
Cavalier Tower Qrendi Unknown Unknown Intact
Delimara Tower Marsaxlokk 1659 Order of Saint John Demolished
Dwejra Tower San Lawrenz 1652 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Garzes Tower Għajnsielem 1605–1607 Order of Saint John Demolished[13]
Għajn Ħadid Tower Mellieħa 1658 Order of Saint John Ruins
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower Mġarr 1637 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Għallis Tower Naxxar 1658 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Ħamrija Tower Qrendi 1659 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Isopu Tower Nadur 1667 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Lippija Tower Mġarr 1637 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Madliena Tower Pembroke 1658 Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] Intact, restored
Marsalforn Tower Xagħra 1614–1616 Order of Saint John Collapsed, some ruins remain
Mġarr ix-Xini Tower Għajnsielem 1661 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Nadur Tower Rabat 1637 Order of Saint John Intact
Orsi Tower Kalkara 1629 Order of Saint John Destroyed
Qawra Tower St. Paul's Bay 1638 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a restaurant
Saint Agatha's Tower Mellieħa 1647–1649 Order of Saint John Intact
Saint George's Tower St. Julian's 1638 Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] Intact, in the grounds of a hotel
Saint Julian's Tower Sliema 1658 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a restaurant
Saint Lucian Tower Marsaxlokk 1610–1611 Order of Saint John[lower-alpha 1] Intact, used as an aquaculture research centre
Saint Mark's Tower Naxxar 1658 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Saint Mary's Tower Għajnsielem 1618 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower Xgħajra 1620 Order of Saint John Demolished
Saint Thomas Tower Marsaskala 1614 Order of Saint John Intact
Sciuta Tower Qrendi 1638 Order of Saint John Intact, restoration planned
Torre dello Standardo Mdina 1725-1726 Order of Saint John Intact
Tal-Għassiewi Tower[14] Zabbar[15] Arab period Ruins
Tal-Wejter Tower Birkirkara 17th or 18th centuries Order of Saint John Intact
Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower Żabbar 1659 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Wardija Tower Żurrieq 1659 Order of Saint John Intact
Wignacourt Tower St. Paul's Bay 1610 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a museum
Xlendi Tower Munxar 1650 Order of Saint John Intact, undergoing restoration
Xrobb l-Għaġin Tower Marsaxlokk 1659 Order of Saint John Ruins
Żonqor Tower Marsaskala 1659 Order of Saint John Demolished
Għajn Żnuber Tower Mellieħa Unknown Possible a dejma post in origins; present structure a 19th century watch tower Intact, partially restored and partially reconstructed
Wied Żnuber Tower Birżebbuġa 16th century Order of Saint John Unknown (no longer exists)[16]

Notes:

  • For privately built towers, see List of fortifications of Malta#Fortified houses and privately built towers.

Batteries
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Image Location Built[lower-alpha 3] Builder Status
Aħrax Tower & Battery Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, abandoned
Arrias Battery St. Paul's Bay 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a restaurant
Balbani Battery Birżebbuġa 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Buġibba Battery St. Paul's Bay 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished, ditch survives
Cambridge Battery Sliema 1878–1886 United Kingdom Intact, restoration planned
Capuchin Convent Battery Kalkara 1799 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Corradino Batteries Paola 1798–1799 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Delimara Tower & Battery Marsaxlokk 1793 Order of Saint John Demolished
Della Grazie Battery Xgħajra 1888–1893 United Kingdom Intact, restoration planned
Dellia Battery St. Paul's Bay 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Elminiech Battery Birżebbuġa 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Fedeau Battery Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Ferretti Battery Birżebbuġa 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a restaurant[17]
Garden Battery Sliema 1889–1894 United Kingdom Intact, restoration planned
Għallis Battery Naxxar 1715 Order of Saint John Ruins
Għargħar Battery San Ġwann 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Jesuit Hill Battery Marsa 1799 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Lascaris Battery Valletta 1854–1856 United Kingdom Intact
Lembi Battery Sliema 1757 Order of Saint John Demolished
Maħsel Battery Marsaskala 1714 Order of Saint John Demolished
Marsa Battery Marsa 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Mistra Battery Mellieħa 1761 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Pembroke Battery Pembroke 1897–1899 United Kingdom Partially demolished, one gun emplacement survives.
Pinto Battery Birżebbuġa 1715 Order of Saint John Heavily altered
Qalet Marku Battery Naxxar 1715 Order of Saint John Ruins
Qawra Tower & Battery St. Paul's Bay 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a restaurant and swimming pool
Qolla l-Bajda Battery Żebbuġ, Gozo 1716 Order of Saint John Intact, abandoned
Ramla Left Battery Xagħra 1715 Order of Saint John Ruins
Ramla Right Battery Nadur 1715 Order of Saint John Ruins
Riħama Battery Marsaskala 1714 Order of Saint John Mostly intact, restoration planned
Rinella Battery Kalkara 1878–1886 United Kingdom Intact, restored
Saint Anthony's Battery Qala 1731–1732 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Saint Julian's Tower & Battery Sliema 1715 Order of Saint John Battery partially intact, tower intact
Saint Lucian Tower & Battery Marsaxlokk 1715 Order of Saint John Battery demolished, tower intact
Saint Mary's Battery Għajnsielem 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Saint Mary's Battery Żebbuġ, Gozo 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Saint Paul's Battery Marsaxlokk 1881–1886 United Kingdom Intact, abandoned
Saint Peter's Battery Kalkara 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished
San Petronio Battery Kalkara 1602 Order of Saint John Destroyed, ditch survives
San Rocco Battery Kalkara 1798–1799 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Saint Thomas Tower & Battery Marsaskala 1715 Order of Saint John Tower intact, battery rebuilt on modern interpretative lines.
Saluting Battery Valletta 1560s Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Sliema Batteries Sliema 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Sliema Point Battery Sliema 1872–1876 United Kingdom Intact, used as a restaurant
Spinola Battery St. Julian's 1889–1894 United Kingdom Demolished
Ta' Għemmuna Battery St. Julian's 1799 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Tal-Borg Battery Tarxien 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Tarġa Battery Mosta
St. Paul's Bay		 1887–1890s United Kingdom Intact, restoration planned
Tas-Samra Battery Ħamrun 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished. The church around which the battery was built still exists.
Tombrell Battery Marsaxlokk 1722 Order of Saint John Demolished, ditch survives
Vendôme Battery Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, dilapidated
Westreme Battery Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Blockhouse intact, gun platform destroyed
Wied Musa Battery Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Gun platform intact, blockhouse heavily altered
Wignacourt Tower & Battery St. Paul's Bay 1715 Order of Saint John Battery mostly intact, tower intact
Wilġa Battery Marsaxlokk 1714 Order of Saint John Blockhouse intact, gun platform destroyed
Wolseley Battery Marsaxlokk 1897–1899 United Kingdom Intact
Żabbar Batteries Żabbar 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished
Żejtun Batteries Żejtun 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished (one cannon remains)
Żonqor Battery Marsaskala 1882–1886 United Kingdom Intact, used as a farm

Notes:

  • Batteries located within larger fortifications are not included in the above list unless they are notable in their own right. Such batteries include:
  • Anti-aircraft batteries built in World War II are also not included.

Redoubts
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Image Location Built[lower-alpha 3] Builder Status
Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq Redoubt Naxxar 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a bar[18]
Briconet Redoubt Marsaskala 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a police station
Crivelli Redoubt Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Ruins
Del Fango Redoubt Marsaxlokk 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Fresnoy Redoubt Birżebbuġa 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished[17]
Marsalforn Tower Xagħra 1720 Order of Saint John Demolished
Mellieħa Redoubt Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Perellos Redoubt St. Paul's Bay 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Qalet Marku Redoubt Naxxar 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Qortin Redoubt Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Partially intact
Ramla Redoubt Xagħra 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Saint George Redoubt Birżebbuġa 1715 Order of Saint John Intact[17]
Saint Lucian Redoubt Marsaxlokk 1799 Kingdom of Great Britain Demolished
Saint Mary's Redoubt Għajnsielem 1716 Order of Saint John Demolished
San Rocco Redoubt Kalkara 1799 Kingdom of Great Britain Demolished
Spinola Redoubt Birżebbuġa 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished[17]
Tal-Bir Redoubt Mellieħa 1715 Order of Saint John Ruins
Vendôme Tower Marsaxlokk 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, used as a football club headquarters
Windmill Redoubt Żabbar 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished. The windmill around which the redoubt was built still exists.
Ximenes Redoubt Naxxar 1715 Order of Saint John Intact, restored
Xwejni Redoubt Żebbuġ, Gozo 1715 Order of Saint John Demolished
Żabbar Redoubt Żabbar 1798 Maltese insurgents Demolished

Entrenchments

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Image Location Built[lower-alpha 3] Builder Status
Bengħisa Entrenchment Birżebbuġa 1761 Order of Saint John Demolished[17]
Birżebbuġa Entrenchment Birżebbuġa 1761 Order of Saint John Partially intact
Falca Lines Mġarr
St. Paul's Bay		 1723–1732 Order of Saint John Ruins
Għajn Tuffieħa Entrenchment Mġarr Order of Saint John Partially intact
Louvier Entrenchment Mellieħa 1761 Order of Saint John Never completed
Largely intact
Madliena Entrenchment Naxxar Order of Saint John Short stretch intact
Naxxar Entrenchment Naxxar 1722 Order of Saint John Partially intact
Qawra Point Entrenchment St. Paul's Bay 1761 Order of Saint John Short stretch survives in ruins
Qbajjar Entrenchment Żebbuġ, Gozo Order of Saint John Few remains survive
Ramla Entrenchment Xagħra 1720 Order of Saint John Few remains survive
Saint Julian's Entrenchment St. Julian's Order of Saint John Short stretch intact
Saint Lucian Entrenchment Marsaxlokk 1799 Kingdom of Great Britain Demolished
Spinola Entrenchment St. Julian's 1761 Order of Saint John Partially intact
Ta' Kassisu Entrenchment Mellieħa 1761 Order of Saint John Never completed
Largely intact
Xgħajra Entrenchment Żabbar 1761 Order of Saint John Short stretches intact
Xrobb l-Għaġin Entrenchment Marsaxlokk 1761 Order of Saint John Ruins
Żewwieqa Entrenchment Għajnsielem 1761 Order of Saint John Ruins

Notes:

  • Entrenchments were originally planned to be built around the entire coastline of the Maltese Islands. The ones listed here are those of which some remains survive, or which are definitely known to have existed.

Lines of fortification
Name Image Location Built Builder Status
Corradino Lines Paola 1871–1880 United Kingdom Mostly intact
Victoria Lines Rabat
Mġarr
Mosta
Naxxar
Għargħur		 1875–1899 United Kingdom Partially intact[19]

Notes:

Stop walls

Fortified houses and privately built towers
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Image Location Built Builder Status
Sant'Angelo Tower Birżebbuġa 1702 or 1775 Viani Destroyed during WWII[20]
Armoury Siġġiewi Intact
Bubaqra Tower Żurrieq c. 1579 Don Matteolo Pisani Intact
Cardona Tower Għarb Cardona family Intact. Built before 1649.[21] Also known as tas-Sarretta Tower.[22] Intact but machicolations removed. They appear to were still partially intact on 21 August, 1933.[23]
Castello Lanzun San Ġwann 15th century–1713 Wenzu Lanzun Intact
Gauci Tower Naxxar 16th century Francesco Gauci Intact
Gourgion Tower Xewkija 1690 Giovanni Gourgion Demolished, some stonework survives
Ingraw Tower Żejtun 1603 Clemente Tabone Dismantled; stonework used to built farmhouses[24][25]
Mamo Tower Marsaskala 1657 Gregorio and Giorgio Mamo Intact, restored
Mari ta’ Qerqni Tower Birżebbuġa Unclear Intact, converted into a farmhouse
Sant'Antnin Tower Żejtun Destroyed during WWII[25]
Santa Cecilia Tower Għajnsielem 1613 Fra Bernardo Macedonia Intact
Ta' Bettina Tower Marsaxlokk c. 1740 D'Aurel Family Intact
Tal-Buttar Tower Marsaskala Intact and used as a rural building with a close by watermill.[26]
Tal-Gardiel Tower Marsaskala Intact
Tal-Mozz Tower Żejtun 1628 Intact.[25] Also known as Tal-Kwies Tower.[27]
Wied il-Qoton Tower Birżebbuġa 18th century Unprofessionally modified in 1758
Verdala Palace Siġġiewi 1586 Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle Intact

Notes
  1. Some alterations were made by the United Kingdom
  2. The fort was built around a tower of the Order of Saint John.
  3. Some dates are approximate

References
  1. Castagna, P. P. (1865). Malta bil chzejer tehne u li ghadda min ghaliha (in Maltese). 1. pp. 166–168.
  2. "Maltese fortifcations" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  3. "Bugeja" (PDF). www.viatransfer.viastoria.ch. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  4. Cassar, George (2014). "Defending a Mediterranean island outpost of the Spanish Empire – the case of Malta". Sacra Militia (13): 59–68.
  5. Attard, Anton F (2012). "Il-Castrum Terre Gaudisii u l-Origini tal-Matrici tal-Assunta f'Ghawdex". Festa Santa Marija. Leone Philharmonic Society (9): 70–77.
  6. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/bitstream/123456789/15356/1/Barumbari%20Giren%20and%20Mgiebah%20-%20Vernacular%20gems%20in%20oblivion.pdf
  7. "Data" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  8. "Info" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  9. "Forzi" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  10. "Fortizza" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  11. Vella, John (2016). "The Rock-cut Church of Bormla: Origins and Developments" (PDF). Journal of Maltese History. University of Malta. 5 (1): 60. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2018.
  12. Guillaumier, Alfie (2002). Bliet u Rhula Maltin. 1. Klabb Kotba Maltin. p. 129. ISBN 99932-39-15-1.
  13. "It-Torri ta' GarΩes" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  14. "thinksite.eu" (PDF). www.thinksite.eu.
  15. "Lehan" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  16. "Fortifikazzjonijiet f'Birżebbuġa". 19 August 2011.
  17. "Batterji" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  18. "Data" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  19. "Victoria lines" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  20. "300 Sena ilu nbniet Il-Kappella ta' Sant'Anġlu ta' Ħal Far". sanpietru.wordpress.com.
  21. "page 98" (PDF).
  22. "Old Photos Catalogue" (PDF). National Archives, Malta: Gozo Collection. Planning Authority: 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2020.
  23. "It-Torri ta' Cardona, Gharb, Road Rabat, Gozo". Europeana. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020.
  24. Bugeja, Anton (2014). "Clemente Tabone: The man, his family and the early years of St Clement's Chapel" (PDF): 42–57. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. Abela, Joe; Brincat, Anthony M. "Santa Maria ta' Ħal Tmin ~ Żejtun ~". Kappelli Maltin (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 20 June 2017.
  26. Independent, Malta (2006-06-18). "Irrational With Marsascala: shocking building proposals for scheduled properties". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  27. "Tal-Kwies Tower – PLAKKASTORJA". Plakkastorja.home.blog. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
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