St Elmo’s historic fortifications in Valletta will host a military museum earmarked to open in September next year, Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi announced yesterday.

An EU-funded, €15.3 million project to restore the upper part of the fort includes the relocation of the War Museum, which will be spread over a bigger area. This will make it possible to exhibit a number of military vehicles, such as an ambulance and a fire engine, which are already in the museum’s inventory.

A small number of artefacts have been put on display at the entrance of the fort opposite the Mediterranean Conference Centre. This exhibition, which includes a replica of the George Cross and a Second World War military motorcycle, was inaugurated yesterday to mark another phase in this project.

Mr Mizzi said the aim of this initiative was to make society aware of the project, which was now nearing completion, as well as get their feedback. Architect David Zarb from Heritage Malta said the museum would give visitors an experience rather than just seeing exhibits.

He added that the public would be able to walk around the fort for free, opening up areas that were previously inaccessible.

The interactive museum will be located at the centre of the structure.

Mr Zarb said the site currently occupied by the War Museum will be converted to a museum, which will be focusing exclusively on the capital city.

Restoration works on the upper part of this fort, which are being carried out by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation, are expected to be completed by April.

The tendering process for the museum equipment is also due to start.

The project does not incorporate Pinto Stores or lower St Elmo, which famously featured in the film Midnight Express. The chairman of the Grand Harbour Regeneration Project, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, said that this part of the fort was excluded from the very beginning.