Fort Saint Elmo occupies the head of the Sciberras Peninsula. It was named after Erasmus of Formia, the patron saint of sailors. The Knights turned the location into a fort to protect the approaches to the two harbours. Saint Elmo was the scene of a crucial battle during the great siege of 1565. It was rebuilt and modified many times. In the Second World War, it was a frequent target of the Axis forces, who repeatedly bombarded it, causing some loss of life among civilians seeking protection behind its strong walls.