Fort Lascaris: Valletta's Harbor Guardian

Fort Lascaris, also known as Lascaris Battery or Lascaris Bastion, is located on the east side of Valletta, Malta. Constructed by the British in 1854, it connects to the St. Peter & Paul Bastion of the Valletta Land Front. The battery is named after Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, who had built a garden on the site.During World War II, the Lascaris War Rooms were dug beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the casemates of Lascaris Battery, serving as Britain's secret headquarters for the island's defense. This network of tunnels and chambers, situated 150 feet below the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery, played a vital role in military operations. The facility later housed the headquarters for the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943.Visitors to Fort Lascaris can explore well-preserved structures, including gun emplacements and underground passageways. The fort's architecture combines Baroque and Renaissance elements. Fort Lascaris offers panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and surrounding landscapes.