Private Boat Tour of the Grand Harbour on the Island of Malta

Situated in Valletta and boasting magnificent views of the Grand Harbour, Fort St Elmo is a treasure trove of artefacts, military paraphernalia, and insights into Malta’s rich history. Built by the Knights in 1552 in just four months, this majestic fort bore the brunt of Ottoman arms during the Great Siege of Malta. It also received its fair share of bombardment during World War ll. Within the Fort’s majestic walls is a chapel, the resting place of knights who fought to the death whilst protecting the altar of the Chapel of St. Anne, during the Great Siege. The Fort is also home to the magnificent National War Museum, where one can see the George Cross, as well as aircraft wreckage, weapons, and various military vehicles

Valletta is the Capital City of Malta which is noted for its fortifications, consisting of bastions, curtains and cavaliers, along with the beauty of its Baroque palaces, gardens and churches.

The Grand Harbour also known as the Port of Valletta dates back to prehistoric times circa 3700 BC. Its north west shore is formed by the Sciberras peninsula that divides Grand Harbour from a second parallel natural harbour, Marsamxett Harbour. The south eastern shore of the harbour is formed by a number of inlets and headlands, principally Rinella Creek, Kalkara Creek, Dockyard Creek, and French Creek, which are covered by Kalkara and the Three Cities: Cospicua, Vittoriosa, and Senglea. The Grand Harbour was the base for the Knights of St John for 268 years, and after their departure became a strategic base for the British for a further 170 years. It was the site in the late 16th century of a devastating tornado that killed 600 people and destroyed a shipping armada. The whole area was savagely bombed during the Second Siege of Malta during World War II, as the docks and military installations around the port were legitimate targets for Axis bombers.

Built in the 17th century by the Order of St. John, Fort Ricasoli is the largest fort in Malta. Work to build the fort started on 1670 and it was fully completed by 1698. Fort Ricasoli occupies a promontory over the Grand Harbour entrance. The point is named Gallow’s Point after the execution of two slaves who tried to escape from the Island. The fort in the late 18th century fought off the French assault on Malta. Negotiations between the French and Order of St. John resulted in the order handing over the Maltese Islands. Other forts including Fort Ricasoli then surrendered and Napoleon landed at this fort soon after. In 1941, it acted as protection for Malta during the second world war. The fort was equipped by the British with guns and protected the Grand Harbour during the war. It protected the entrance of the Grand Harbor on 1941 when it was attacked by an Italian flotilla. In present days it serves as location for various international movies.

Strategically located on a hillock, at the end of the Birgu peninsula. After 1530, the Order of St John christened this military structure as Fort St Angelo and turned it into their headquarters. The Knights remodelled the building extensively with the construction of a series of artillery platforms which marked the introduction of the bastioned system of defence into the Maltese Islands. During World War II, Fort St Angelo suffered 69 direct hits. It continued to serve as a shore establishment of the Royal Navy in Malta until the last detachment of foreign forces marched out of its walls in March 1979.

Following the 1551 attack by the Ottoman Empire on the Maltese Islands, the Order of St John decided to build a fort on the peninsula which at the time was known as Isola di San Michele. The fortified city of Senglea was later built around the fort. During the Great Siege of 1565, the fort withstood 10 attacks from the Ottomans but even though it suffered extensive damages it never fell into the enemy’s hands. After the siege, the fort was rebuilt as Saint Michael Cavalier and was completed in 1581. Today only the outer bastions of Fort St Michael remain to remind us of the fort’s original site and purpose.