Fort St Elmo & the National War Museum

11/06/2026

🇲🇹 Tista’ timmaġina tkun xogħol u f’daqqa waħda tisma’ l-ħsejjes tal-bombi niżlin ħdejk?💥

Għas-sitt suldati li mietu fuq il-kavallier tal-forti, dak il-mument żgur kien devastanti. Proprju f’dan il-jum fl-1940, it-Taljani tefgħu l-ewwel bombi tagħhom fuq il-gżejjer tagħna! Apparti l-forti, intlaqat il-mitjar ta' Ħal Far ukoll, iżda l-ewwel sitt vittmi tal-gwerra kienu dawn is-suldati tar-Royal Malta Artillery li kienu stazzjonati fil-Harbour Fire Command.

Dakinhar, is-sirena daqqet tmien darbiet. It-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija kienet laħqet lil Malta.

🇬🇧 Can you imagine being on duty when you suddenly hear the shattering sounds of bombs falling next to you? 💥

For the six soldiers who died on the fort's cavalier, that moment was devastating. On this very day in 1940, the Italians dropped their first bombs on our island. Alongside Fort St Elmo, the airfield in Ħal Far was also hit. However, the first war victims were these six soldiers from the Royal Malta Artillery stationed in the Harbour Fire Command.

That day, the siren sounded eight times. The Second World War had reached Malta

09/06/2026

🇲🇹 Grazzi kbira lil Show of Arms talli ngħaqdu magħna fl-avveniment Museums by Candlelight tagħna u talli taw donazzjoni tal-ktieb il-ġdid tagħhom lill-librerija tal-mużew tagħna!😁🤩

🇬🇧 A big thank you to Show of Arms for joining us in our Museums by Candlelight event and for donating their new book to our museum's library! 😁🤩

02/06/2026

🇲🇹Curtis Callus, l-assistent kuratur tagħna fil-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra għadu kemm jingħata d-Dean's Award, mill-Università ta’ Malta, premju li jirrikonoxxi l-eċċellenza akkademika, hekk kif temm it-tieni masters tiegħu! Kburin ħafna bil-kollega tal-ġenn tagħna! 🎉👏

🇬🇧 Curtis Callus, our assistant curator at the National War Museum was recently awarded the Dean's Award from the University of Malta, an award that recognises academic excellence. He received this following the completion of his second masters! We are super proud of our incredible colleague 🎉👏

So proud of the four students from our department who got the Dean's Award during a ceremony held on Friday 29 May 2026 at the University of Malta. Congratulations go to Curtis Callus, Jeremy Debono, Maria Ferranti and Christopher Giordano.

02/06/2026

🇲🇹 Illum, il-Knisja Kattolika Rumana tiċċelebra l-festa ta’ Sant'Iermu, magħruf ukoll bħala San Erasmus, martri Nisrani Taljan tas-seklu 4.

Sant'Iermu huwa meqjus bħala l-patrun tal-baħħara u dawk li jaħdmu fuq il-baħar. Id-dawl elettriku misterjuż li kultant kien jidher fuq l-arbli tal-vapuri waqt maltempati sar magħruf bħala n-nar ta' Sant'Iermu u ħafna baħħara kienu jqisuh bħala sinjal tal-protezzjoni tiegħu fuq il-baħar. X’aktarx li l-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann, magħrufa għall-qawwa navali tagħha u l-flotta ta’ xwieni li kellha, semmiet il-forti għal Sant'Iermu sabiex iqegħduha taħt il-protezzjoni tiegħu u anke ghax fuq il-post kien hawn kappella ddedikata lilu.

🇬🇧 Today, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Elmo, also known as Saint Erasmus, a 4th-century Italian Christian martyr.

Saint Elmo is regarded as the patron saint of sailors and seafarers. The mysterious electrical glow sometimes seen on ship masts during storms became known as “Saint Elmo’s Fire” and was believed by many mariners to be a sign of the saint’s protection at sea. It is likely that the Order of St John, renowned for their naval prowess and fleet of war galleys, dedicated the fort to Saint Elmo in the hope of placing it under his protection whilst a chapel dedicated to him was already present on site.

01/06/2026

🇲🇹 Jekk tinterressak l-arkitettura militari, dan l-avveniment huwa ghalik! Fit-12 ta' Ġunju, se nesploraw l-istorja tal-bastjuni u s-swar tal-forti! Informazzjoni u biljetti hawn: https://heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/guardians-of-the-night-the-carafa-enceinte-tour/

🇬🇧 If you like military architecture, then is event is for you! On 12th June, we will be exploring the history of the fort's bastions and defensive walls! Info and tickets here: https://heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/guardians-of-the-night-the-carafa-enceinte-tour/

On Friday 12th June, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, Heritage Malta invites you … Continued

21/05/2026

🇲🇹 Avviż ġentili li fit-tmien tal-ġimgħa aħna se nkunu magħluqin.

🇬🇧 Gentle reminder that this weekend we will be closed.

🔊 Pawsa qasira fil-Forti Sant’Iermu

Nixtiequ ngħarrfukom li l-Forti Sant’Iermu u l-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra se jkunu magħluqin fit-23 u fl-24 ta’ Mejju. Biljetti tal-aħħar ħin għall-Ipoġew se jinbiegħu mill-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arkeoloġija fil-Belt Valletta f’dawk il-jumejn.

Niskużaw ruħna għal kwalunkwe inkonvenjenza u nirringrazzjawkom talli tifhmuna. Sadanittant, nistednukom tesploraw siti u mużewijiet oħra ta’ Heritage Malta fil-kapitali f’dawk id-dati. Sekli ta’ arti, storja u sengħa qed jistennewkom!

🔊 A brief pause at Fort St Elmo

Please note that Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum will be closed on the 23rd and 24th of May. Last-minute tickets for the Hypogeum will be sold from the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta on those days.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for understanding. In the meantime, we invite you to explore other Heritage Malta sites and museums in the capital on those dates. Centuries of art, history, and craftsmanship await you!

18/05/2026

🇲🇹 F’dan il-jum fl-1565, il-kavallieri li kienu stazzjonati fil-Forti Sant'Iermu, lemħu l-armata Ottomana fuq l-orizzont, riesqa lejn Malta. Din żgur kienet xena li tkexkex! Tliet tiri ta’ kanun nstemgħu madwar il-gżira, iwasslu t-twissija lil Forti Sant’Anġlu, l-Imdina u Għawdex. Dan kien il-bidu għal dak li eventwalment isir magħruf bħala l-Assedju l-Kbir!

🇬🇧 On this day in 1565, the knights at Fort St Elmo spotted the Ottoman armada on the horizon. This must have been quite a chilling sight! Three cannon shots rang out across the island, carrying the warning to Fort St Angelo, Mdina, and Gozo, each responding in turn. This was the beginning of what would eventually become known as the Great Siege!

18/05/2026

🇲🇹 Illum, it-18 ta’ Mejju, il-Kunsill Internazzjonali tal-Mużewijiet (ICOM) jikkommemora l-Jum Internazzjonali tal-Mużewijiet, fejn jiċċelebra l-irwol vitali li għandhom il-mużewijiet fil-preservazzjoni tal-wirt komuni tagħna, fl-ispirazzjoni tal-kurżità, u fil-konnessjoni m tal-ġenerazzjonijiet tal-passat mal-preżent.

Fil-Forti Sant’Iermu u l-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra, kull karatteristika arkitettonika, artefatt, u dokument joffri tieqa fl-istorja kumplessa ta’ Malta u l-poplu tagħha.

Billi nippreservaw u naqsmu stejjer li jvarjaw mill-preistorja saż-żminijiet kontemporanji, niżguraw li l-esperjenzi, is-sagrifiċċji, u l-kisbiet ta’ dawk li ġew qabilna jkomplu jinfurmaw u jispiraw lill-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri.

Nistednukom iżżuru, tesploraw, u tinvolvu ruħkom fl-istorja militari ta’ Malta f’wieħed mill-aktar siti storiċi tal-gżira.

🇬🇧 Today, 18 May, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) commemorates International Museum Day, celebrating the vital role museums play in preserving our shared heritage, inspiring curiosity, and connecting past generations with the present.

At Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum, every architectural feature, artefact, and document offers a window into the complex history of Malta and its people.

By preserving and sharing stories that stretch from prehistory to contemporary times, we ensure that the experiences, sacrifices, and achievements of those who came before us continue to inform and inspire future generations.

We invite you to visit, explore, and engage with Malta’s military history at one of the island’s most historic sites.

30/04/2026

Please note: Tickets will be out Wednesday, 6th May Heritage Malta is … Continued

23/04/2026

🔊 Pawsa qasira fil-Forti Sant’Iermu

Nixtiequ ngħarrfukom li l-Forti Sant’Iermu u l-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra se jkunu magħluqin fit-23 u fl-24 ta’ Mejju. Biljetti tal-aħħar ħin għall-Ipoġew se jinbiegħu mill-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arkeoloġija fil-Belt Valletta f’dawk il-jumejn.

Niskużaw ruħna għal kwalunkwe inkonvenjenza u nirringrazzjawkom talli tifhmuna. Sadanittant, nistednukom tesploraw siti u mużewijiet oħra ta’ Heritage Malta fil-kapitali f’dawk id-dati. Sekli ta’ arti, storja u sengħa qed jistennewkom!

🔊 A brief pause at Fort St Elmo

Please note that Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum will be closed on the 23rd and 24th of May. Last-minute tickets for the Hypogeum will be sold from the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta on those days.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for understanding. In the meantime, we invite you to explore other Heritage Malta sites and museums in the capital on those dates. Centuries of art, history, and craftsmanship await you!