The European Regional Development Fund has agreed to allocate €13.4 million for the restoration of Fort St Angelo, Environment and Culture Minister Mario de Marco confirmed this afternoon.

The grant will enable a project for much needed full restoration of the fort to finally get under way.

Emergency works on the work are currently being carried out through a €1.5 million government grant.

The works started in June when a swimming pool, that dated back to the 1980s, was removed together with a water tank that was overlooking it.

Some work has also been done to the roof of the fort's entrance, which had received a direct hit in WW11. It will eventually be restored to its original vaulted structure which dates back to time of knights. 

During the war, a bomb had opened up a crater, which the British repaired with steel beams and concrete. This intervention rusted with time damaging the stone in the process.

A complex operation has been carried out to remove the beams. 

Dr de Marco said the European funds will also be used to open up the fort as a tourist attraction and also an attraction to be enjoyed by the Maltese. It will include a museum shop, a walk through experience and 'sleeping quarters' in the former barracks where visitors can sleep over for a night to enjoy the fort's experience. This, however, would not be a hotel, Dr de Marco said.

Dr de Marco said Fort St Angelo was an icon of Malta's history and should be enjoyed once more by the public. This was also in line with efforts to attract more economy activity to Cottonera.