The text carries on with a detailed description of the site’s history, which some historians argue may date back to a Roman settlement. However, the focal point is the elaboration of the fort’s determining role during the Great Siege, under the leadership of Grandmaster Jean de La Vallette, which is amplified in nearby panels.

So far so good, yet past the entrance the historic data loses its vividness to the sheer abandonment of the place.

Piles of rubbish and absence of maintenance are characteristic throughout. There are rooms, probably of British build, filled with junk, selections of period classroom desks, mattresses and other household items.

Further up there is a swimming pool, half-full with stagnant water, some tyres and a range of plastic bottles and other debris.

Overgrown bushes feature everywhere, besides being unsightly their roots seem to be causing structural damage.

One of three cannons found at one end of the fort is missing most of its supporting pedestal, aptly replaced with a stone. In the same area, hanging from the bastion, is a huge cement sack, serving no apparent purpose. The list goes on, however, as was confirmed by the watchman on duty, the most disturbing part is that a good number of tourists actually visit the site regularly, usually during afternoons.

Besides the mess just described, the fort is devoid of signs or explanatory material. In fact, apart from the boards mentioned earlier, the only other information panels to be found are on the top-most section on the roof of the complex.

Visitors are basically left to wander around and make out for themselves, possibly through hotel pamphlets, the architectural and cultural meanings of the artefacts found here and there.

The most ironic fact, however, is that this same place has been earmarked as a focal point of the European Union accession celebrations. Apparently some Lm49,000 was spent on the new multilevel lighting system designed to enhance the fort’s facade at night.

Presumably this decision was taken after consideration of the pivotal role played by Fort St Angelo in the making of European history.

However, as explained above the appreciation, at least for the moment, is literally skin deep. Minister Ninu Zammit’s recent statement that restoration work is in the pipeline is a welcome prospect, nonetheless this is a story that recurs, perhaps too often.

The state of St Angelo has been previously reported in the media, apparently to no avail. It is time for action.

Neglecting such heritage in such a way not only damages tourism but more importantly our cultural identity.

The whistle-blowers in this case were a couple of enthusiastic pensioners who, while preferring to remain anonymous, felt it necessary to do something about it.

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