The giant gun
One of two survivors of its type.
Frank Vincentz — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Frank Vincentz — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Frank Vincentz — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Frank Vincentz — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Frank Vincentz — CC BY-SA 3.0
Fort Rinella is a Victorian battery in Kalkara, built to operate one huge gun. Despite the common name, it was never classed as a fort while in use. It holds an Armstrong 100-ton gun, with the only other survivor at the Napier of Magdala Battery in Gibraltar. In 1873 Italy began building two ironclads armed with four of these guns, and Britain responded with four Mediterranean batteries to protect its route to India through Suez. Rinella went up between 1878 and 1886, above the shore east of the Grand Harbour entrance. The gun arrived from Woolwich in 1882, a hundred men hauled it into place over three months, and it entered service in January 1884. It last fired in 1905, never having seen action in 20 years of service. The gun is the star, with its enormous barrel and wrought-iron carriage, and beneath it are tunnels, magazines and lifts for shells weighing 2,000 pounds. You also see ditches and low stone defences designed to avoid naval fire, with old cannons lined up by the entrance. The Malta Heritage Trust took it over in 1991 and runs guided tours, a film show and re-enactments in Victorian dress. The site lies about 1 km from Birgu and 1.6 km from Valletta in a straight line across the harbour mouth. Opening times differ widely between sources and may cover only a few days a week, so check the official site before coming.
One of two survivors of its type.
Ammunition rooms below the site.
Soldiers in Victorian dress.
Kalkara, Grand Harbour, Malta
Birgu (Vittoriosa)The oldest of the Three Cities facing Valletta across the Grand Harbour, and the13 minutes walk4.9
The Inquisitor's PalaceOne of the few surviving inquisitorial palaces in the world and the only one ope13 minutes walk4.1
Fort St AngeloThe fort that held through the Great Siege, and from which Malta was governed: S16 minutes walk4.5
Fort St Elmo and the War MuseumThe fort that held a month and changed history: St Elmo stands at the tip of the18 minutes walk4.4
Palazzo de La SalleA palace from the era of the Knights of St John on Republic Street, Valletta's m20 minutes walk4.6No, it only fired in practice, last in 1905.
Sources differ and it may open only a few days a week, so check the official site.