Lascaris War Rooms, Valletta, Malta

Malta's limestone geology was perfect for digging tunnels and bunkers. In the cliff-side beneath the Upper Barrakka Gardens and above the Lascaris Wharf, is the Lascaris War Rooms, which was the nerve centre of the British defense of Malta during the Second World War.

On the harbour-side of the Barrakka Gardens is the gun platform. Every day at mid-day, one of the guns is fired in salute. It is a popular tourist attraction. You can view the firing of the gun from the gardens for free or pay a small fee to watch the firing from the platform. More on this later.

One of the cannons trained over the Grand Harbour entrance

There are network of tunnels leading from the stairs from the gun platform to the cliffs over the Lascaris harbour. The Lascaris War Rooms are entered through this tunnel.

Don't commit nuisances!

With the outbreak of the Second World War, the British administration in Malta understood the island would soon come under attack from Axis forces so began to excavate a command centre under the Lascaris Battery. Construction started in 1940 and was completed in 1943. The command centre was taken over by NATO in 1967 but was eventually abandoned and fell into disrepair. It has subsequently been restored and turned into an impressive, small museum.

British tropical kit

Royal Airforce kit

Royal infantry

Royal Navy

One of the restored rooms

Looking down on the wall map of Sicily

The plotting room

One of the plotting rooms. Malta's proximity to Sicily meant that air attacks from the north needed to be constantly tracked. Later, the Lascaris Rooms would be the centre for the planning of Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily.

In the Operation Husky rooms - German uniforms for the Italian campaign

Italian uniforms

And more Italians

And more Germans

American uniforms

More German kit

British and Commonwealth

German weaponry

Map of Sicily



Tunnel leading to the harbourside

After exiting the Lascaris tunnel on the harbour side you find yourself in a carpark under an enormous bastion

The bastion is something of a dead end although there is an elevator leading down to the harbour

And the view of the harbour. Directly across is the old city of Birgu, the capital at the time of the Great Siege of 1565. After the Ottoman defeat, the Knights created the massive fortified capital of Valletta on the site of the Ottoman siege camp. 

Lascaris War Rooms is a very good museum for the Second World War period. Highly recommended when you visit as its close to the major sights (Barrakka gardens and central Valletta). It has very comprehensive and informative displays and is big enough to give a good overview. For tickets and opening times, check the website: https://www.lascariswarrooms.com/