Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna has added two early 12 pounder British cast iron muzzle loading cannon to the growing historic artillery display at the Saluting Battery in Valletta. The two gun barrels were cast by the Carron gun foundry of Falkirk in Scotland in 1810. Their second reinforce is marked with the cypher of King George III. This addition is significant for the Saluting Battery since between 1803 and 1844 its armament consisted of 12pr guns. The 12pr iron ML gun was capabl

Today at 12:00 hrs, a full-gun salute was fired from the Saluting Battery in Valletta to mark St Paul’s Day. This annual event recalls a centuries-old tradition when major religious feasts were commemorated with artillery salutes fired from Malta’s fortifications. Historically, more than 100 religious occasions were marked in this way, although by 1824 the number was reduced to 24, with a slight increase in later years. Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna revived this historic practice in

FWA supports government’s plan to cull pigeons to control the feral bird population. Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna welcomes the government’s plan to cull pigeons to control the feral bird population that litters some of the most popular public spaces in Malta and Gozo, causing untold nuisance to many. From a cultural heritage point of view, this culling has been long overdue and FWA has for years lobbied for it. Earlier attempts to reduce the feral pigeon population by feeding it co