Fort Manoel

Fort Manoel
Forti Manoel
Manoel Island, Gżira, Malta
View of Fort Manoel from the sea
Map of Fort Manoel
Coordinates	35°54′10″N 14°30′19″E / 35.90278°N 14.50528°E / 35.90278; 14.50528
Type	Star fort
Site information
Owner	Government of Malta
Controlled by	MIDI plc
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Intact
Site history
Built	1723–1733
Built by	Order of Saint John
In use	c. 1734–1964
Materials	Limestone
Battles/wars	Capture of Malta (1798) Siege of Malta (1798–1800) World War II

Fort Manoel (Maltese: Forti Manoel or Fortizza Manoel) is a star fort on Manoel Island in Gżira, Malta. It was built in the 18th century by the Order of Saint John, during the reign of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, after whom it is named. The British military took over the fort in 1800 and it remained in use by them until 1964. The fort was severely damaged in World War II, but it was restored and it is now in good condition.

Fort Manoel is located to the north west of Valletta, and commands Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek. The fort is an example of Baroque architecture, and it was designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind.

Fort Manoel has been on Malta's tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1998, as part of the Knights' Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta.

In the 16th century, the Marsamxett Harbour was one of the two major harbours in the Maltese city of Valletta. In the centre of the harbour was an island, originally known as l'Isolotto and now known as Manoel Island after the fort, which overlooked the city. Shortly after Valletta's construction, the Order of Saint John realised this was a potential vulnerability in the city's defences. As early as 1569, it was proposed that a small fort with a cavalier be built on the Isolotto to prevent the enemy from taking the island and building batteries on it. The threat was again highlighted by the Spanish military engineer Scipione Campi in 1577, and by Giovanni Battista in 1582.