Fort Ricasoli
Historic fort on Malta / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Fort Ricasoli (Maltese: Forti Rikażli) is a bastioned fort in Kalkara, Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John between 1670 and 1698. The fort occupies a promontory known as Gallows' Point and the north shore of Rinella Bay, commanding the entrance to the Grand Harbour along with Fort Saint Elmo. It is the largest fort in Malta and it has been on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1998, as part of the Knights' Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta.[2]
Fort Ricasoli | |
---|---|
Forti Rikażli | |
Kalkara, Malta | |
Coordinates | 35°53′51″N 14°31′33″E |
Type | Bastioned fort |
Area | 83,800 m2 (902,000 sq ft)[1] |
Height | up to 20 m (66 ft) |
Site information | |
Owner | Government of Malta |
Controlled by | Malta Film Commission Waste Oils Co. Ltd. |
Open to the public | No |
Condition | Mostly intact but dilapidated |
Site history | |
Built | 1670–1698 |
Built by | Order of Saint John |
In use | 1674–1964 |
Materials | Limestone |
Battles/wars | French invasion of Malta (1798) Siege of Malta (1798–1800) World War II |
Events | Froberg mutiny |
Fort Ricasoli saw use during the French invasion of Malta in 1798 and the subsequent Maltese insurrection, after which it ended up in British hands. Ricasoli was the site of the Froberg mutiny in 1807, and it was also used as a military hospital during the 19th century. It saw use once again in World War II, when parts of it were destroyed by aerial bombardment. After it was decommissioned in the 1960s, the fort was used for industrial purposes. Today, the fort remains mostly intact but in a dilapidated state, and it is used as a filming location and a tank cleaning facility. Plans to restore the fort were approved in June 2019.