Access to Fort St Angelo in Vittoriosa has been blocked by the heritage authorities after dangerous cracks in the fortification's stonework appeared, The Sunday Times has learnt.
Heritage Malta barred access to the fort over two months ago because it deemed the faults to be very serious and a danger to the public, Vittoriosa mayor John Boxall said when contacted.
He lamented the lack of interest by the authorities to carry out restoration works over the years on the historical building. The closure of the fort to the public irked at least one reader of this newspaper (see letter on page 17) who likes to pay a visit every September 8. But concerns over the fort's deteriorating state have long been expressed by the Vittoriosa council.
"We have been calling for proper restoration works to save this jewel.
"The fort can be opened up to the public and it could be self- sustaining if maintained well," Mr Boxall said.
The gate opposite the super-yacht berthing facility, which gives access to the ramp that passes through a tunnel, is closed and manned by a security guard.
According to the mayor the only person allowed in is Fra John Critien, the representative of the Knights of Malta, who lives in the upper part of the fort.
However, it is understood that the resident knight cannot receive foreign dignitaries because of Heritage Malta's decision to block access. Attempts to contact Fra Critien yesterday proved futile.
In 1998, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta was granted a concession to the upper part of the fort for 99 years.
Mr Boxall said the council had written to Heritage Malta about the decision to close the fort to the public, asking for a long term solution.
"I understand the danger to the public but the solution is not blocking access but urgent repair works to ensure that no further damage is done to the building," he said. The fort has been left abandoned for so long, he added, that any intervention now was bound to be costly.
A cursory look at the outer bastions reveals trees and shrubs hanging out of the fortifications and other eroded stonework.
Apart from the knight's residence at the very top of the building, the fortification is expected to house a health spa centre which forms part of the Cottonera Waterfront Group project in the area.
Fort St Angelo dates back to the Middle Ages and it had been, together with the town of Vittoriosa, the first home of the Order of St John when it came to Malta in the 16th century.
It served as the principal defence bastion against the Turks in the Great Siege of 1565. It was in commemoration of the victory over the Turks that Birgu was renamed Vittoriosa, serving as the Knights' capital until Valletta was founded in 1570.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com