Sliema Point Battery ( mt, Batterija tal-Ponta ta' Tas-Sliema), also known as Fort Sliema ( mt, Il-Fortizza ta' Tas-Sliema), is an artillery battery in

Sliema Sliema ( mt, Tas-Sliema ) is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the most densely po ...

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

. It was built by the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

between 1872 and 1876. The battery stands on the peninsula that separates

Marsamxett Harbour Marsamxett Harbour (), historically also referred to as Marsamuscetto, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It is located to the north of the larger Grand Harbour. The harbour is generally more dedicated to leisure use than the Grand H ...

from St. Julian's Bay. The battery was later used as a searchlight position, and it is now a restaurant known as ''Il-Fortizza'' (The Fortress). The battery is located at Tower Road, one of Malta's most popular seaside promenades, which was named after the 17th century

Saint Julian's Tower Saint Julian's Tower ( mt, Torri ta' San Ġiljan), originally known as ''Torre di San Giuliano'' and also known as Sliema Tower ( mt, Torri tas-Sliema), is a small watchtower in Sliema, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the fifth of the De Redin ...

. Like Sliema Point Battery, this tower is now also used as a restaurant.

History

The construction of Sliema Point Battery started in 1872 by the

, as part of a program of improvements to Malta's fortifications recommended in Colonel Jervois' Report of 1866 titled "Memorandum with reference to the improvements to the defences of Malta and Gibraltar, rendered necessary by the introduction of Iron Plated Ships and powerful rifled guns". The battery, which was completed in 1876, has many Gothic Revival architectural features, such as the main gate. Construction cost a total of £12,000. The battery was armed with two 10 inch and two 11 inch rifled muzzle-loading guns. These guns were removed in 1905, and a searchlight tower was built on part of the battery. It was then used as a searchlight position to expose enemy ships approaching the

Grand Harbour The Grand Harbour ( mt, il-Port il-Kbir; it, Porto Grande), also known as the Port of Valletta, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks ( Malta Dockyard), wharves, a ...

area. From around 1912, the Sliema Aquatic Sports Club began to meet near the battery. eventually, a water polo venue was built near the battery, and it is still used by the Sliema Aquatic Sports Club to this day.

Present day

The fort is now used as a restaurant known as ''Fortizza Bar and Restaurant'' and commonly called ''Il-Fortizza''. It came under new management in 2009.

References

{{Batteries in Malta Sliema British fortifications in Malta Batteries in Malta Buildings and structures completed in 1876 Gothic Revival architecture in Malta Restaurants in Malta Limestone buildings in Malta 19th-century fortifications