As Malta marks the 450th anniversary of the Great Siege, Fort St Angelo, standing like a sentinel over the Grand Harbour, yesterday opened its doors, allowing the public to admire the restoration job now done. The €14 million works have been completed in time for the imposing fort that will be hosting 53 heads of State and of government for the Commonwealth summit later this month.

The fort in Vittoriosa played a prominent role in the Great Siegie of Malta also because of its strategic location. Regrettably, along the years it suffered decay apart from man-made alterations.

A cost-benefit analysis was conducted in 2010 and then Heritage Malta successfully applied for financial assistance under the European Regional Development Fund.

It was allocated a sum of €13,390,000 for the conservation, restoration and reuse of all areas and pre-1979 buildings within the fort.

Action was taken to stop the deterioration of certain areas of the historic site which were in a dangerous state of collapse. This forced the authorities to temporarily close the fort to avoid health and safety hazards. It was also decided that any structures built or added after 1979 would be removed to give the fort the same look it had when it was last used for military purposes.