Fort Rinella, Fawwara Area Travel Guide

4.6 (704)

Explore a Victorian-era fort in Malta and witness the mighty Armstrong 100-ton gun, the world's largest muzzle-loading cannon.

Fort Rinella, built by the British in 1878 in Kalkara, Malta, is a well-preserved Victorian fort famous for housing the Armstrong 100-ton gun, one of the world's largest muzzle-loading cannons. Visitors can explore the fort, witness historical reenactments, and learn about 19th-century military life.

A brief summary to Fort Rinella

Kalkara, Kalkara, MT
Click to display
Click to display

Saturday 10 am-4:30 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Fort Rinella.

Check the schedule for historical reenactments, including live cannon and musket firing, to enhance your visit.
Consider purchasing a multi-site ticket for discounted entry to Fort Rinella, the Malta at War Museum, Lascaris War Rooms, and the Saluting Battery.
Combine your visit to Fort Rinella with a trip to the nearby Malta at War Museum in Vittoriosa.

Do you manage this location?

Take control to get all the benefits, like improved information, better appearance, and stronger visibility across AI-powered discovery. Learn more about listing your business on Evendo

Activate your presence

Other nearby places you may find interesting

The closest places of the same kind, if this one is not quite what you had in mind.

Torri Fawwara

Hagar Qim Temple

Casa Bernard

Pjazza Mesquita

Fawwara Aqueduct

Explore Fort Rinella on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Fort Rinella, mapped for you.

Getting There

Public Transport

From Valletta, take bus number 3 towards Kalkara. The bus stops right outside the main gate of Fort Rinella. The bus frequency is approximately every half hour from Monday to Saturday. A single bus fare costs around €2-€3.
Taxi

A taxi from Valletta to Fort Rinella takes approximately 15 minutes. Taxi services like Taxi Cab Malta, Malta Taxi Valletta, or eCabs are available. The cost is approximately €15-€25.
Car

Fort Rinella is located on the eastern side of the Grand Harbour in Kalkara. Follow the directional signs from Kalkara. Free parking is available at the entrance, but spaces are limited. Street parking is also available nearby.

Discover more about Fort Rinella

Fort Rinella, located in Kalkara, Malta, stands as a testament to British military engineering in the late 19th century. Constructed between 1878 and 1886, the fort was designed to house a single, massive Armstrong 100-ton gun, intended to defend the Grand Harbour and British trade routes in the Mediterranean. The need for such a weapon arose from Britain's concern over Italy's growing naval power.The fort itself is an irregular pentagon, complete with a deep ditch, caponiers, and a counter-scarp gallery. The design incorporates two levels: an underground magazine and loading chambers, and a ground level with accommodation and machinery areas. The Armstrong 100-ton gun, the fort's centerpiece, was a marvel of Victorian engineering. It could fire a one-ton shell up to 8 miles, piercing 21 inches of wrought iron. Due to its immense size, the gun relied on a steam-driven hydraulic system for loading and traversing.Although the gun never saw action, it remains a symbol of British military might. In 1906, it was declared obsolete, and the fort was partially stripped and abandoned. However, since 1991, the Malta Heritage Trust has been restoring Fort Rinella. Today, visitors can experience daily historical reenactments, including military drills, signaling, and swordsmanship. The fort also features a museum showcasing the life of a Victorian garrison.