Fort St Angelo’s intrinsic value for the Maltese Islands and their people has no comparison. It may not be the oldest, grandest or finest stronghold, but it surely is the boldest memorial of the strategic importance of these tiny islands, and of the innumerable lives sacrificed for their dominion since time immemorial. Control of this fort meant effective rule of the Maltese Islands for the past thousand years at least. Indeed, no other fortress has been engaged with the same intensity in the shaping of Malta’s destiny.