When planning a stay in Gzira, you can explore several interests side by side: fortress and architectural history, religious tradition and views of the coast. Fort Manoel and the Lazzaretto represent different historical functions; the parish church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the annual feast in honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel add a religious dimension. This lets you focus on architecture, history, a specific feast date or the waterfront areas.
Fortress and island history
Manoel Island is almost flat and leaf-shaped. Fort Manoel was built between 1723 and 1733 and is considered a typical example of 18th-century military engineering. The fort also contains a Baroque chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. These two features can be considered separately: its classification as an example of military engineering applies to the fort, while the dedication reflects the chapel’s religious character. Thus, military history and a specific religious theme come together in one structure.
Glacis Park surrounds Fort Manoel and covers 80,000 square metres. Its existing landscape is being rehabilitated as part of the Manoel Island project. The park extends the view beyond the fortress and adds a landscape dimension to the area’s history. A permanent Lazzaretto was established on Manoel Island in 1643 as a quarantine centre; it was expanded in 1837 and 1838 during the British period. The Lazzaretto’s quarantine function distinguishes it from the fort’s military-historical classification. The dates also provide a comparison: the Lazzaretto was already there before the fort was built and was expanded later.
Architecture and the Carmelite feast
The parish church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Gzira was built in the Doric style between 1921 and 1935. It can be directly compared with the Baroque chapel at Fort Manoel: the two have different architectural styles and were built at very different times. Almost two centuries separate the end of the fort’s construction in 1733 from the start of the church’s construction in 1921. Alongside this architectural history, there is a fixed date in the annual calendar: the feast in honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated in Gzira each year on the second Sunday in July. If you are travelling at this time, check the exact feast dates in advance.
Coast and travel planning
A visitor notice dated 21 July 2025 mentions popular swimming areas along the waterfront of Manoel Island. Extensive excavation work also uncovered a curved staircase leading down to the beach below Fort Manoel. The two details are relevant to different plans: the swimming areas are for spending time in the water, while the staircase provides access to the beach. If you are planning to swim or visit the beach, check current access and conditions at the location beforehand.
Discover more destinations: Pembroke, Gozo, Ħal Għaxaq, Żebbuġ, Ghammar, Paola, Għargħur, San Pawl Il-Baħar
For the main travel overview: Malta.
