At the end of the Valletta peninsula stands Fort St Elmo, a former guard tower that was extended in 1552. Built in the shape of a star, it played a major role during the first Great Siege and its terrible hand-to-hand combat. The building was renovated in 2014 and houses the War Museum, which is dedicated to the island's military history. Only the impressive lower part, on the west side, remains inaccessible, but film buffs may recognise it as a location used for Midnight Express.