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Monday 09:30 - 17:30 Tuesday 09:30 - 17:30 Wednesday 09:30 - 17:30 Thursday 09:30 - 17:30 Friday 09:30 - 17:30 Saturday 09:30 - 17:30

Fort Rinella

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Fort Rinella

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Fort Rinella is a late 19th-century fort home to the world’s largest cannon - the Armstrong 100-ton 17.72 inch Rifled Muzzle Loading gun.

Fort Rinella is open Mon - Sat from 10.00 till 17.00hrs. A visit to Fort Rinella includes a guided tour, an audio-visual film and historical interpretation displays. The main re-enactment display starts at 14.00hrs. Film shows & guided tours are available on the hour. This attraction is equipped with a multi-lingual audio-guide.

12.00hrs - Military Signalling Display
Live-demonstration of 19th century military communication using period equipment)

12.30hrs - Swordsmanship Display
A walk-through the historic evolution of the sword from antiquity to present day.

14.00hrs - Main guided tour & historical re-enactment
Includes various aspects of 19th century British military drill and fighting skills as practiced by the British Tommy in the days of Empire. Including the firing of live-historic artillery and a cavalry show. Built in 1878 by the British, Fort Rinella was the most technologically advanced war machine of its day. Powered by coal-fired steam driven hydraulics it could fire its monstrous 100-ton gun every six minutes, sending a one-ton shell up to a distance of eight miles to pierce no less than 21 inches (65cm) of ship armour! Fort Rinella was one of four 100-ton gun batteries built in Malta and Gibraltar for the protection of the harbours. These forts became necessary with the building of two powerful Italian battleships; the Duilio and Dandalo, both armed with four 100-ton guns each in revolving turrets. At the time, Britain used the Mediterranean as a quick route to India and it was feared that the growing naval power of Italy might tip the balance of power in the region. The 100-ton gun was first developed for Italy by the great British Victorian inventor and industrialist from Newcastle, Sir William George Armstrong. The 100-ton gun was the world’s largest muzzle-loading cannon ever to be built. It has a calibre of 17.72-inches (45cm) and it is 35 feet (11m) long. It fired explosive elongated shot using a quarter of a ton of black powder. The cost of each round equaled the daily salary of 2,700 soldiers! Fort Rinella is managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - the Malta Heritage Trust.

29/10/2026

New book about the History of the Guthrie bridge as mounted at Fort Rinella is now out. Written by Mario Farrugia and published by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna. You can order your copy below at €19 each. Only a limited number of this book is available.

22/10/2026

THE MONKEY TAIL: WESTLEY RICHARDS CARBINE

Westley Richards was a fi****ms manufacturer based in Birmingham. In 1858, he patented a design for an innovative breech-loading system. In simple terms, a lever incorporated into the fi***rm's action could be raised to expose the chamber. Its shape in the open position earned it the nickname 'monkey tail'.

After multiple trips back to the drawing board, Richards' improved design for the breech-loading system was accepted by the War Office in 1866. The mechanism enjoyed considerable success. Some P1853 Enfield muskets were also converted to the 'monkey tail' system.

By the 1870s, the Martini-Henry had superseded all other breech-loading fi****ms. Still, the Monkey Tail remained in production until the 1880s, seeing action in South Africa in the hands of Boer forces.

Fort Rinella's collection includes an example of Richards's carbine made in 1874. The exhibit 'Soldiers of the Queen' contains many other artefacts from the same period, demonstrating the rapid development in technology throughout the Victorian era. The site and museum are open from Monday to Saturday and are managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

09/10/2026

LATEST ADDITION: 12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) CZAPKA

This cap, taking the form of a square-top shako, was referred to as a 'Czapka'. The term derives from the Polish word for cap. In the British military of the Victorian era, the Czapka was synonymous with Lancer regiments, such as this example worn by the 12th (Prince of Wales's) Royal Lancers.

Before the advent of mechanised warfare, horses and cavalry made up the fast, mobile forces of any army. In the British army, dragoons (mounted infantrymen) were used across battlefields, armed with muskets and pistols. After the Napoleonic Wars, lances were revived and issued to cavalry, deemed effective in combat of the age.

This was certainly the case for the 12th Royal Lancers. The regiment served in India, Afghanistan, and South Africa. Lances remained in use until the First World War, in which some of the last-ever lancer cavalry charges were carried out. In the 1920s, both lances and horses were replaced by armoured cars.

This artefact now forms part of the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella. The museum and site are open Monday to Saturday, forming part of a museum network managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

02/09/2026

LATEST ADDITION: ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE SANDHURST HELMET

This home service helmet was worn by cadets at the prestigious military college at Sandhurst. Originally established in 1801 at High Wycombe and Great Marlow, it addressed the need to train officers for infantry and cavalry regiments. Major-General John Le Marchant (father of the future Governor of Malta John Gaspard Le Marchant) acquired funding from Parliament to open his proposed college. In 1812, it relocate to Sandhurst where it is still found today. Since then, thousands of British Army officers would receive their education at this institution.

The helmet plate bears Queen Victoria's cipher and crown, surmounted by the motto "Nec Aspera Terrent" ("Difficulties do not Frighten"). This unique example now forms part of Fort Rinella's 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit, open Monday to Saturday. The site and museum are managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

28/08/2026

A REVOLUTIONARY FI***RM: THE ADAMS REVOLVER

This historical fi***rm was the first successful double action revolver ever produced. The design the cylinder to rotate while also cocking dropping the hammer, all in one trigger pull.

Its history goes back to the Great Exhibition in 1851. The new revolver produced by Deane & Adams outshone the mass-produced examples exhibited by their principal competitor, C**t. Adams' revolver could be operated entirely with one hand alone, and chambered a larger cartridge. It was also faster and of higher quality than its counterparts.

Despite this, the British military still preferred C**t's models as they were battle-tested and proven. Adams' double-action revolver also suffered a heavy trigger pull that made it hard to shoot accurately at range. However, servicemen in the Crimea who had taken Adams revolvers into battle reported on its effectiveness and reliability in close-quarters fighting .

One officer, Lieutenant Frederick E. B. Beaumont, came back from the Crimea and in 1855 patented an improved version of Adams' revolver. Deane & Adams took up the new design. At the same time, C**t's pistols were increasingly felt to be underpowered and slow to operate by comparison, and Adams' revolver surged in popularity through the commercial market. Soon enough the new Beaumont-Adams revolvers were ordered by the War Department around 1856.

It was not the end of the story. Robert Adams himself left the Deane family firm due to disagreements and started his own company, the London Armoury Co., with his cousin James Kerr. Another split occurred, and Adams left his newfound company by 1859. He kept the rights to his revolver, producing it at other fi***rm manufacturers under license.

The revolver remained in use by military and police forces, succeeded by three marks of breech loading Adams' revolvers with brass cartridges patented by Robert's brother. The Adams revolver line was eventually replaced by the Enfield Mk I in the 1880s, ending its streak of success as the British Army's signature pistol.

Both the original, early Adams Revolver and John Adam's improved version are on display at Fort Rinella. The John Adams revolver in particular was the commercial model produced from late 1860s onwards. It forms part of the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella, a site and museum operated by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

21/08/2026

SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN: EXHIBIT AT FORT RINELLA

In the Victorian era (1837-1901), Malta became a stepping stone for British expansion, allowing it to retain influence in the Mediterranean and beyond. In this period, the island saw thousands of servicemen land on its shores, departing for distant lands or remaining for garrison duties.

This era also saw great changes in uniforms, equipment, and technology. Large conflicts were fought, notably in the Crimea, India, and Southern Africa. For the Victorian soldier, conditions were often harsh, contrasting with the romanticized image of bright red soldiers marching in unison. At Fort Rinella, the splendour of 19th century parade dress and the drudgery of warfare at the time are both displayed. Fort Rinella is dedicated to Malta's Victorian military heritage and the Soldiers of the Queen across the empire.

Curious to learn more? Visit the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibition at Fort Rinella, the only museum in Malta dedicated to Victorian military history, managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

18/08/2026

LATEST ADDITION: S***F BOX

In the 18th century, the upper classes of England became obsessed with s***f: sniffing to***co. Hundreds of establishments sold the coveted product, and many books were published on the subject. S***f was made with cured to***co from different varieties. It was ground into a powder and blended with oils and spices (sometimes up to a hundred different ingredients), according to each producer's recipe. It was then left to mature before being sieved and sold as a very fine aromatic powder inhaled through the nose.

S***f was often consumed socially. Therefore, the quality of one's s***f and the manner in which it was consumed dictated one's social standing. It was disrespectful to inhale loudly, snort, or sneeze. One could also pay a tutor for s***f etiquette.

Of importance was also one's s***f box, showing one's taste and financial means much like any other personal property. Some were exceptionally ornate. This example, now forming part of Fort Rinella's collection, features a painting of a man taking s***f, based on an artwork from the 1820s.

By the late 18th and early 19th century, s***f was produced industrially, making it commercially available to most classes of society. However, entering the Victorian era it gradually went out of fashion, replaced by smoking. Queen Victoria herself disliked s***f and to***co and banned their consumption at Royal Residences. However, officers in the British army held on to s***f as a tradition until they too garnered a preference for ci******es and ci**rs.

The 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit is open Monday to Saturday at For Rinella, a site managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

10/08/2026

LATEST ADDITION: LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT HELMET

This artefact is a Victorian era home-service helmet worn by an officer of the Lincolnshire Regiment. The helmet was introduced in 1878, replacing the shako. As the name implies, it was not used on deployments abroad. Unlike the khaki and white foreign service helmets, it is covered in dark midnight-blue cloth. It was worn with Full Dress and Field Service Dress until 1914.

The Lincolnshire Regiment was formed back in 1685 and served across the globe. Among its battles, it fought in the American War of Independence, the Peninsular War, and the Boer War. The regiment also served in the Ionian Islands and was even stationed in Malta.

This example now forms part of the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella, a site and museum managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

04/08/2026

LATEST ADDITION — VICTORIAN BELL-TOP SHAKO

One of the most impressive military headpieces from the 19th century was certainly the bell-top shako. Its name derived from its flared, top-heavy shape.

This example was worn by an officer of the 11th (North Devonshire) Regiment of Foot, circa 1830/40. On the front plate itself one finds the regiment's battle honours for Salamanca (1812), Pyrenees (1813), Nivelle (1813), Nive (1813), Orthes (1814), and Toulouse (1814).

This highly prized, unique, and rare artefact is the latest addition to the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella. The site and museum is open Monday to Saturday, forming part of a museum network managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

29/07/2026

ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY BUSBY

The busby is one of the most recognisable items of dress associated with the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). It was formed in 1793 as the mounted branch of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The busby was adopted later in the 1830s, bringing the RHA's headdress into line with hussar fashion, which was itself derived from the Hungarian hussar cap.

The busby's construction typically comprised of a fur body, a coloured cloth 'bag' draped from the crown, and a plume at the front. A cord, known as a busby line, ran from the cap to the wearer's shoulder.

An original example of a RHA Busby is on display at the 'Soldiers of the Queen' exhibit at Fort Rinella, open Monday to Saturday. The site and museum is managed by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna

Address

St. Rocco Road
Il-Kalkara
KKR9063

Opening Hours

Monday	09:30 - 17:30
Tuesday	09:30 - 17:30
Wednesday	09:30 - 17:30
Thursday	09:30 - 17:30
Friday	09:30 - 17:30
Saturday	09:30 - 17:30

Telephone

+35621809713

Website

http://www.fortrinella.com/

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