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Malta - The Malta Noon-Day Gun - Daily Cannon Firing - Upper Barracca Gardens, VallettaWe visited The Malta Noon-Day Gun - Upper Barracca Gardens, Valletta during our visit to Malta in 2011
The firing of the Malta Noon-day Gun in Valletta
It is advised that you arrive at the Upper Barracca Gardens at least 30 minutes before noon to see and hear the Gunnery Sergeant (pictured left) explaining the method of loading firing and cleaning the gun, a replica Royal Navy cannon, as well as being shown a variety of types of cannon shot. The Malta (Valletta) noon-day gun was originally used as a time signal for the city of Valletta and surrounding area. At one time there were three shots fired: one at dawn, mid-day and sunset.
The first firing at dawn was a signal that the city gates were opening and the last firing was made one hour before the city gates closed for the night. These firings of the gun were originally made from the Saluting Battery (Battery Street, Valletta) just below Upper Barracca Gardens on the lower tier of St Peter and St Paul Bastion, Valletta and was of particular importance to ship's captains to regulate the ship's chronographic time-pieces. Since 1923 though an electronic time signal has been available to ship's masters.
The Malta Noon-day Gun spectacle has been sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority in conjunction with The Malta Heritage Trust. The Malta Heritage Trust also operate:
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The Malta Noon-day Gun is a historic event repeated daily now (except Good Friday, Easter and Christmas) by members of the Malta Heritage Trust - Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.
This was a cheap and efficient way of delivering a time correction service to the garrison and civilian community.
There was upon our visit no charge made to watch the firing of The Malta Noon-day Gun but donations are gratefully accepted when the uniformed 'soldiers' of the gun battery come round with a collection bucket.