THE RED FORT

Malta

Properly called St. Agatha’s Tower or Fort St. Agatha – this, the most impressive of Malta’s many towers stands at the western end of the island overlooking Mellieħa Bay – a vulnerable landing spot. It gains its popular nickname “The Red Fort” because of the colour it is painted.

The Tower was begun by Grand Master Juan de Lascaris-Castellar around 1646 and completed by 1649. It is, in many ways, an old fashioned structure by the standards of time – looking very much like one of the great square keeps on 12th Century England or France. It was garrisoned by 30 men and could hold enough supplies to withstand a 40 day siege.

No siege ever came, but it continued to be fortified. In the 18th Century bastions were added and the Fort was manned throughout both World Wars. However, by the end of the 20th Century it was in a state of some dilapidation and restoration work did not begin until 1999. Today the Fort is occasionally open to the public.

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2019