Fort Rinella
Fort Rinella
Fort Rinella (St. Rocco Road, Kalkara) – this fort, which is across the bay from Valletta, was built by the British in 1878 to defend the UK’s commercial and military activities in the Mediterranean, and to act as a back-up to that country’s maritime traffic that was going through the Suez Canal in Egypt. This fort’s most outstanding feature was its 100-ton Armstrong gun (able to penetrate enemy warships, such as the ones built by the Italian Navy that one time had 22 inches of steel armor and four 100-ton Armstrong guns per vessel).
Hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission: €10 (adult), $8 (seniors/students), €25 (family/2 adults and up to 3 children), €5 (children up to 16 years old). Admission includes a guided tour, film show, and access to all displays according to the Fort’s schedule. There are occasional firings of the Armstrong gun – a crowd pleaser among the tourists! Visitors should check the Fort’s website for info on upcoming re-enactments involving the Armstrong gun: www.fortrinella.com