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SALUTING BATTERY

The world's oldest Saluting Battery in operation

The Saluting Battery is located in Valletta at one of the best vantage points overlooking the Grand Harbour. It was built in 1566 as part of the City itself by the Order of St. John to the design of the Pope's military engineer Francesco Laparelli. It is the oldest saluting battery in operation from which ceremonial gun salutes are regularly fired on special occasions and a noon-day gun is fired precisely at noon and an evening gun at 4 o'clock from Monday to Saturday.

SALUTING BATTERY

Monday - Saturday: 10.00 - 16:30
(Except on 24,25 and 31 Dec, 1 Jan, Good Friday and Easter)
Last admission- 16:00

Saluting Battery, Battery Street,
Valletta, VLT1221, Malta

Members: FREE
Adult (16+ years old): €6
Child (5-15 years old): €3

Tickets include guided tour, use of our multi-lingual audio-guides, viewing of time-gun firings. and free entrance to the Malta Time-Gun Museum

Please note that the gun firing display at the Saluting Battery attract great audiences all year round. To avoid disappointment it is recommended to by your entrance ticket in advance and be there some 15 minutes before the 12,00 or 16.00hrs display.

CLICK TO SEE IN FULL SCREEN

Watch the daily time-guns.
Witness a timeless tradition, that goes back hundreds of years

The time-guns at the Saluting Battery fire at 12 and 4 pm (except on 24/25/31 Dec, 1 Jan, Good Friday and Easter) . Between 1824 and 1923 a cannon was fired precisely at noon to signal the exact time of the day at which ship-masters were to calibrate their ship clocks. These were later used to determine the longitude at sea ensuring safe navigation. The evening gun which is now fired at 4pm was originally fired twenty minutes before sunset as a public signal that the city gates were to be closed and the bridges drawn for the night.

FACILITIES

AUDIO GUIDES

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Contact

Opening Hours

Need More Info?

+356 21225277

Mon - Sat

10:00 am - 04:30 pm
(Except: 24, 25, 31 Dec, 1 Jan, Good Friday and Easter)

info@wirtartna.org

Sunday

Closed

Directions

Follow the directional signs starting at City Gate, Valletta. These will direct you to South Street onto Castille Place past the Auberge de Castille into the Upper Barracca Gardens and then down the steps into the battery. The Saluting Battery can also be accessed from Battery Street which is the first turning on the right into St. Ursula Street.

RECOMMENDED

The Saluting Battery is best seen along with the THE MALTA TIME-GUN MUSEUM which it is meant to compliment.

The Malta Time-Gun Museum is housed in a 16th century sunken artillery battery which forms part of Valletta's original defences. In 1856, the St. George's Garrison Church was built over it at which point it became a crypt. It is located under the Malta Stock Exchange Building on the right of the Upper Barracca entrance by the horse cabs. It tells the story of how cannon and time-balls were used to signal time in connection with navigation. It also documents the history and evolution of artillery through a rich display of original cannon, uniforms, instruments and equipment commonly used at the Saluting Battery.

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