Saluting Battery

04/09/2026

NEXT PUBLIC EVENT: A full gun ceremonial salute will be fired from the guns at the Saluting Battery in Valletta to mark Malta's national day - Victory Day on Tuesday 8 September at noon. Victory Day commemorates three important military victories in Malta's history - the lifting of the Great Siege in 1565, the end of the French blockade in 1800 and Italy's surrender in 1943 during WW2.
The gun salute will commence with the firing of the noonday gun precisely at 12.00hrs. Before and after the gun salute there will be guided tours of the battery and hands-on sessions providing information on historic artillery and ammunition and tours. An entrance fee of €3 per adult and €1 per child applies. Visitors to the nearby Malta Time-gun Museum and FWA members will enter free.
This public event is being organised by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - the Malta Heritage Trust with the support of the Malta Tourism Authority and the Bank of Valletta (Main Partner).

07/04/2026

VACANCY - Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is looking to employ on full or part-time basis a number of gunners to fire the guns at the Saluting Battery in Valletta during public displays. Employment hours are from 9.30am till 4.30pm. Interested parties are to send their CV by email only: to [email protected]. A valid working permit is necessary.

11/03/2026

29/01/2026

On Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 12.00hrs, a full-gun salute will be fired from the guns of the Saluting Battery in Valletta to mark St. Paul's Day. This annual event will evoke the centuries-old tradition when key religious festivals were marked with artillery fire from the fortresses. This tradition pre-dates the Order of St. John, was interrupted by the Republican French and was resumed by the British until the outbreak of the Second World War. By the mid-19th century artillery salutes were increasingly replaced by petard firing espescially in the case of minor religious festivals. Originally, there were over 100 such occasions on which artillery salutes were requested by the Church but after 1824 these were reduced to 24 to be increased slightly later. Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna has restored this tradition in the early 2000's and as since fired two full-gun salutes on the occasion of St. Paul's Day (10 Feb) and Victory Day (Marija Bambina - 8 Sep). This public event is kindly supported by the Malta Tourism Authority and the Bank of Valletta.

20/01/2026

Due to adverse weather conditions, the Saluting Battery, Malta Time-Gun Museum, Lascaris War Rooms, War H.Q., and St Peter’s Galleries will remain closed today.

03/12/2025

Explore the many roles of the Saluting Battery by visiting the Malta Time-Gun Museum, located just outside the Upper Barrakka Garden. Explore the centuries-long history of the Battery, view a vast selection of historic artillery tools and uniforms, and size up with field guns, naval cannon and their projectiles, topped off with the time-gun firing at the Saluting Battery, all for EUR 6.00!

Visit any of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna's heritage sites to book your tickets, or visit us on www.wirtartna.org