Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (FWA) will be providing a unique public spectacle of gun salutes from the old saluting battery below the Upper Barracca Gardens in Valletta today between 5pm and 8pm.

The event is being held in an effort to demonstrate the viability of re-introducing the old-age custom of greeting visiting ships to Malta with the firing of gun salutes.

If this activity becomes customary, Malta will be the only place where such an activity takes place although it is said that both Gibraltar and Barbados are considering following suit.

Till the 1950s, visiting dignitaries were honoured with the firing of gun salutes from the saluting battery and at times from other harbour fortifications, depending on their rank and importance.

Similarly, artillery salutes were also provided on religious feast days, public holidays and to announce the news of naval or military victories. Throughout the British presence in Malta, the approved station for the provision of formal ceremonial salutes has always been the saluting battery, although a similar naval installation was operated from time to time on top of the main cavalier at Fort St Angelo, when this had become a Royal Navy base.

Today, FWA volunteers dressed in costumes of late 19th century Maltese gunners of the British Army, will man the guns at the saluting battery to fire saluting rounds from five guns at 10-second intervals to honour two cruise ships – Costa Concordia and MSC Opera.

A commentary will be provided in English for the public to be able to follow the proceedings.

The ships will be leaving Grand Harbour between 5pm and 6pm and the event will end with the firing of the sunset gun precisely at 8. 10pm.

Guided tours around the saluting battery will be conducted by FWA volunteers in English and Maltese, in between gun salutes.

The entrance fee is Lm1 for adults and 50 cents for children under 16 years and paying visitors will be given a printed history of the battery.

Funds raised will go towards the ongoing restoration of this site. The saluting battery restoration project is a joint initiative between the Malta Tourism Authority and Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna.

The aim of the project is to turn this historic place into a live cultural attraction in the capital.

The Resources and Infrastructure Ministry, the Valletta Rehabilitation Project, Heritage Malta and the Environment and Landscaping Consortium have also been offering their assistance towards this initiative.