world war 2 malta tours

Valletta: World War II Malta Full-Day Walking Tour

Step into the past and walk through Valletta’s wartime memories on the World War II Malta Full-Day Walking Tour. As history whispers through the ancient alleyways, visitors are transported to a time when Malta stood as a bastion against Axis aggression.

From hidden bunkers to strategic lookout points, each corner holds untold stories of bravery and resilience. But what hidden secrets lie within the Lascaris War Rooms? Join this immersive journey to uncover the untold chapters of Malta’s wartime saga.

Just The Basics

• Explore Valletta’s WWII history with a knowledgeable guide
• Visit key sites like Lascaris War Rooms and Siege Bell
• Learn about Malta’s strategic importance during the war
• Experience historical landmarks and war memorials in Valletta

Here's some more nearby activities we've reviewed

• From Malta: Gozo Full-Day Quad Tour With Lunch and Boat Ride
• Casa Rocca Piccola Palace & Museum Entrance Ticket
• Valletta: Self-Guided Audio Tour
• Malta: Private Chauffeur Service and Car

Tour Details

Embark on an 8-hour immersive journey led by a live English-speaking tour guide, including convenient hotel pickup, to explore the historical depths of the Siege of Malta during World War II on a captivating Valletta walking tour.

Group dynamics play a crucial role in enhancing the experience, fostering interactions among participants, and sharing perspectives on the historical significance of the locations visited. Cultural insights are woven into the tour, providing participants with a deeper understanding of Malta’s wartime past and the resilience of its people.

Discover the profound history and significance of the Siege of Malta on this immersive Valletta walking tour, where you’ll visit key sites such as the Lascaris War Rooms and pay respects at various war memorials .

The highlights of this tour include:

• Panoramic Views : Enjoy breathtaking views from the Upper Barracca Garden.
• War Memorials : Pay your respects at various war memorials scattered throughout Valletta.
• Siege Bell : Visit the Siege Bell, which overlooks the picturesque Valletta Harbor.
• RAF Monument : Honor the 2,298 Commonwealth aircrew at the commemorative RAF Monument.

These stops offer a poignant look into Malta’s wartime past, providing a deeper understanding of the struggles and sacrifices made during the Siege of Malta.

Historical Context

During World War II, Malta played a crucial role in the Mediterranean theater due to its strategic importance . The island faced relentless air and naval attacks from Axis powers, mainly Italy and Germany. Malta’s significance heightened with the opening of a new front in North Africa, as General Rommel acknowledged its importance for Axis control of the region.

The Siege of Malta, spanning from 1940 to 1942 , showcased the island’s resilience against overwhelming odds. The strategic location of Malta allowed it to disrupt Axis supply lines, making it a thorn in the side of the Axis powers. This historical context sets the stage for understanding the challenges and triumphs that Malta experienced during World War II.

Navigating the logistics of the Valletta Walking Tour: World War II Malta is made seamless with the option of free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, ensuring flexibility for travelers. To enhance the tour experience, visitors are encouraged to explore museums independently.

Here are some key logistics to keep in mind:

• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour
• Reserve now & pay later for added flexibility
• Check availability for different starting times
• Consider visiting museums independently for a more in-depth experience

Feedback and Reviews

Tour participants have expressed varying opinions about their experience on the Valletta Walking Tour: World War II Malta, highlighting both positive and negative aspects.

While some travelers mentioned a lack of visiting advertised places on the tour, others suggested exploring museums independently to enhance their experience. Reviews came from travelers in Canada and the United Kingdom, offering mixed feedback on the overall tour experience satisfaction .

Some visitors appreciated the informative insights into the Siege of Malta and the historical significance of the sites visited. On the other hand, a few participants felt that certain attractions were rushed or not adequately covered.

Despite differing viewpoints, exploring independently and delving deeper into specific aspects of Malta’s wartime history were common themes in the feedback provided.

In the historical backdrop of World War II Malta, the strategic significance of the island in the Mediterranean theater became paramount.

• Tour Inaccuracies : Some travelers noted a lack of visiting advertised places on the tour.
• Independent Exploration : Suggestions were made to explore museums independently.
• Historical Significance: Malta faced air and naval attacks from Italy and Germany during the war.
• Strategic Importance: General Rommel acknowledged Malta’s importance for Axis control of North Africa.

Understanding the historical context of Malta during World War II provides a deeper appreciation for the island’s role in the conflict. While the tour offers valuable insights, independent exploration might allow visitors to delve further into specific aspects of Malta’s wartime history.

When exploring Valletta’s World War II history, visitors can easily navigate the tour route by following the knowledgeable guide through key landmarks and historical sites.

To explore landmarks efficiently, travelers should wear comfortable shoes and bring water to stay hydrated.

The guide will lead the group through the underground tunnels and rooms of the Lascaris War Rooms, where important wartime decisions were made.

Travelers will pay their respects at various war memorials and visit the Siege Bell overlooking Valletta Harbor.

The tour will also include a stop at the panoramic Upper Barracca Garden for stunning views.

For the best experience, visitors should follow the guide closely, ask questions , and enjoy the rich history of Valletta during World War II.

Here's a few more nearby tours and experiences we have reviewed.

• Valletta City Tour: St. John’s Cathedral, Malta Experience
• From Malta: Gozo Tour With a Difference
• Malta By Night Open-Top Bus Tour Including 1-Hour Mdina Stop
• Valletta: Escape Game and Tour
• Valletta: The Malta Experience Audio-Visual Show
• Malta: Valletta and Mdina Full Day Tour

Common questions

Are there any specific attire requirements for the walking tour.

When preparing for the walking tour, visitors should consider attire requirements and ensure they wear comfortable shoes to navigate the historical sites in Valletta effectively. Comfortable footwear is crucial for a full-day exploration.

Will There Be Opportunities to Purchase Snacks or Meals During the 8-Hour Tour?

During the 8-hour tour, you will have opportunities to purchase snacks or meals at designated stops. Breaks will be provided for meals, accommodating various dietary restrictions. The timing allows for sufficient breaks for refreshments.

Is There Any Specific Information Provided About the Tour Guide’s Background or Expertise in World War II History?

The tour guide shares a wealth of expertise on WWII history , enriching the experience. Their background knowledge enhances the understanding of the Siege of Malta, providing insightful context throughout the full-day walking tour of Valletta.

Are There Restroom Facilities Available Along the Tour Route?

Restroom availability during the 8-hour tour is limited. Tour duration may impact access to facilities, so participants should plan accordingly. It’s advisable to use facilities before starting the tour to ensure comfort throughout.

How Much Walking or Physical Activity Is Involved in the Tour?

The tour involves moderate physical endurance with frequent rest breaks. Visitors walk at a leisurely pace through historical sites. The trail difficulty is low to moderate, suitable for most fitness levels. Enjoy the tour while learning about Valletta’s rich history.

Here's more of our most recent tour reviews happening neaby

• From Valletta: Blue Lagoon and Gozo Tour W/Quads and Dinner
• Valletta: Food Walking Tour With Tastings
• Valletta: Street Food and Culture Walking Tour
• Malta: Mosta, Crafts Village, Mdina & Valletta Full-Day Tour
• Interactive Ghost Tour With a Horror Light Candle Dinner
• From Malta: Gozo Full-Day Jeep Tour With Lunch and Boat Ride
• Valletta: Malta 5D Audio-Visual Show
• Valletta: Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour
• Malta: Marsaxlokk, Blue Grotto, and Qrendi Guided Tour
• The Ultimate Valletta Evening Food Tour
• Valletta: Malta, Gozo & Comino Private Chauffer Tour by Car

To sum it up, the Valletta World War II Malta full-day walking tour offers a unique and immersive experience into the pivotal events of the Siege of Malta.

With knowledgeable guides leading the way, visitors can explore key sites and gain a deeper understanding of the island’s wartime history.

Despite some mixed feedback, the tour promises a memorable blend of historical insight and unforgettable experiences for those interested in uncovering Malta’s past.

Similar Posts

Pyramids of Giza & Saqqara Complex

In the realm of ancient marvels, the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara Complex hold a special place as enduring testaments…

Road to Hana Private Jungle Tour

Winding through Maui’s verdant landscape like a hidden treasure map, the Road to Hana Private Jungle Tour promises an exclusive…

Sapporo Private Tours With Locals: 100% Personalized, See the City Unscripted

Step into the meticulously planned chaos of Sapporo, where the structured meets the spontaneous. With Sapporo Private Tours With Locals,…

Beijing 3-Day Tour With Mutianyu and Jingshangling Great Wall

Like a tapestry woven with threads of history and nature, the Beijing 3-Day Tour with Mutianyu and Jingshangling Great Wall…

Mykonos Port Transfer

Have you ever wondered if the rumors about the impeccable service of Mykonos Port Transfer are true? Picture this: a…

Estancia Gaucho Day at Buenos Aires

Some may question the authenticity of experiencing the gaucho way of life on a day trip from bustling Buenos Aires….

Lascaris War Room s

War H.Q. Tunnel s

Saluting batter y, fort rinell a, malta at war museum, underground, air-raid shelters, getting her e.

Malta at War Museum, Couvre Porte,

BRG1810, Vittoriosa, Malta

Monday - Saturday 10:00-16:30

Last admission at 16:00

Please check for information on closures and notices.

Tickets & Pr ices

Buying your tickets online is the cheapest and most convenient way to visit the Malta at War Museum.

Members: FREE

Adult (16+ years old): €14

Senior: €12

Family (2 Adults & 3 Children u/16 years old): €28

Child (5-15 years old): €7

Donate an Artefact

We are always on the lookout for items of interest to supplement our collection. If you feel that you have something that might be of interest to us or something that belonged to someone who served here during WW2, we would appreciate you bringing it to our attention. 

Click Here For More Information

We are a voluntary organisation and there are several ways you can support us.

Become a membe r

Explore and discover so much more about each of the six palaces with limitless visiting throughout the year.

Make a donatio n

Large or small every legacy is important and makes a real difference to our work.

Volunteer with u s

Volunteers support our sites in many different ways. See what roles we have available and register your interest.

Tunnel Tours

You can buy your exclusive, war h.q. tunnel tour , malta at war museum or online..

Opened in 1940 to accommodate the Combined War Headquarters of all three services underground to protect it from aerial attack, this complex housed the Fighter Sector Operations Room used during the Battle for Malta 1940-43 along with other operation rooms and ancillary facilities. After the end of the war it was used by NATO up to 1977 to track the movement of Soviet subs in the Mediterranean.

Exclusive guided tours are offered twice daily one at 10.30 and another one at 13.00. The fee for this tour is €17.00 per person. The tour starts from the Saluting Battery in Valletta.

Main Sponsors & Partners:

More From Forbes

How to visit malta's world war ii tourist sites.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Fort St. Elmo at the tip of the Sciberras Peninsula

The Maltese Islands sit at the geographic, and historically, strategic center, of the Mediterranean. That position has meant that the islands have invariably been incorporated into successive Mediterranean empires. Phoenicians and Greeks, followed by Carthaginians and Romans, dominated the islands in antiquity. They were followed by Arab conquerors from North Africa, Normans and Spaniards, and eventually by the Knights of St. John—officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta.

The Knights received the islands in 1530, from Charles V of Spain, to hold as a perpetual fiefdom in return for the annual payment of a falcon to be made on All Saint’s Day, November 1, to the Emperor’s representative, the Viceroy of Sicily. This is the origin of the story of the Maltese Falcon. Malta does not have any indigenous varieties of falcons, but historically was home to large numbers of peregrine falcons. During the Middle Ages, it was famous for breeding and training falcons.

The Knights used the island to raid the Barbary kingdoms along the North African shore and as a base to prey on Ottoman shipping in the eastern Mediterranean. Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Emperor, called Malta a “venomous viper’s nest.” He had succeeded in expelling the Knights from their previous abode on the island of Rhodes in 1522. He tried again in 1565, in what is now remembered as the Great Siege of Malta, but failed.

Napoleon conquered Malta on his way to Egypt in 1798. Malta became a British protectorate in 1800, when the Royal Navy intervened to support an uprising by the Maltese against the French. Great Britain gained permanent possession of Malta, pursuant to the Treaty of Paris in 1814. The Congress of Vienna, which sorted out post-Napoleonic Europe, subsequently reaffirmed British possession of the islands.

Initially, the British hadn’t wanted Malta. They felt that Malta’s historic reliance on food imports made it vulnerable to a naval blockade. London had originally asked for possession of Sicily. It had to settle for Malta instead. The islands remained a British colony until they gained independence in 1964.

From the 16th century on, Malta’s role became increasingly strategic. The Knights fortified the island, transformed the Grand Harbour into a major anchorage, one of the finest harbors in the Mediterranean, and built a series of fortified watch towers encircling the main islands of Malta and Gozo.

The St. Peter and St Paul bastion sit on top of the Lascaris War Rooms

Malta’s value to Great Britain was as a naval anchorage in the center of the Mediterranean. After the building of the Suez Canal in 1869, however, Malta became a critical link in the defense of the canal and the sea route from Britain to India.

Great Britain modernized the island’s fortifications and expanded the dockyards and ship repair facilities in the Grand Harbour. Malta became an important supply base and coaling station for Royal Navy ships operating in the Mediterranean or transiting the Suez Canal.

During World War I, Malta served as a logistical base for the British war effort in the Mediterranean. It also served as a medical and rehabilitation facility for the wounded from the Gallipoli campaign. A small number of Turkish prisoners of war were also interned on Malta.

After the end of the war, the British transferred to Malta certain high-ranking Turkish officials, with the intent of trying them for war crimes. Called the “Malta exiles” in Turkey, they were eventually repatriated when British authorities decided they lacked a legal basis to prosecute them.

When Italy entered the Second World War, Malta found itself in the cross hairs of the Axis powers. It’s strategic location between Sicily and North Africa made it an ideal base from which to try to interdict ships carrying supplies to Italian forces and, later, the German Afrika Corps.

The Germans developed a plan, Operation Herkules, for an airborne and amphibious invasion of the islands, but shelved it following the high losses suffered by airborne troops during the Nazi invasion of Crete. Instead, the Axis powers relied on an extensive bombing campaign, coupled with submarine attacks, against convoys bringing supplies to Malta. The result was that Malta was the most heavily bombed place on earth during WW II.

The blitz over London lasted eight months, during which German bombers carried out 85 major raids on the city. During one stretch, the city was bombed on 56 of 57 days. A total of 24,000 tons of bombs were dropped on London during those eight months.

The air attacks on Malta, by comparison, lasted for two years, including one continuous stretch that lasted 154 days and nights. Malta suffered a total of 3,343 air raids, which dropped a total of 15,000 tons of bombs and destroyed 30,000 buildings.

At the time, London had a total surface area of around 500 square miles, versus 95 square miles on Malta’s main island. Malta received roughly three times as many bombs per square mile as did London, hence its designation as the most heavily bombed place on earth during the war.

In turn, Allied submarines operating from Malta sent 390,660 tons of Axis shipping to the bottom of the Mediterranean.

Malta hosted the command center for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Maltese military historians like to point out that the Allied liberation of Europe from the Nazis began in Malta.

Many of the military facilities in Malta during WW II have since been converted to civilian use. The Malta International Airport, for example, is the former RAF Luqa airbase. There are still, however, many reminders of Malta’s WW II legacy.

Malta’s WW II History Trail

The entry into Valletta’s Grand Harbour is flanked by a series of forts designed to protect both the harbor entrance and the inner harbor. These forts include St. Elmo, a star fort, in Valletta, along with Fort Tigné and Fort Ricasoli . St. Elmo stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula, which divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbors.

Fort St. Angelo

The inner harbor was protected by Fort St. Angelo and a variety of other fortifications, while Marsamxett was protected by Fort Manoel. In 1998, the Maltese government returned Fort St. Angelo to the Sovereign Military Order of Saint John via a 99-year lease to the historic fort. The event marked the return of the Knights of Malta to the historic bastion, since they were expelled by Napoleon in 1798.

Although these fortifications were originally constructed, starting in the 16th century, by the Knights of Malta, they were modernized and strengthened by the British garrison on the island. In addition the British built over 2 dozen additional forts, gun batteries and other fortifications. About half of those installations have been converted to civilian use or have been restored.

Today, Fort St. Elmo houses Malta’s National War Museum . The museum’s collections date back to the early Bronze Age, around 2,500 BC, and trace the island’s numerous invaders in chronological order.  A large portion of the

museum is devoted to Malta’s role in World War II. The museum also houses three of Malta’s most iconic military heirlooms. These include the Gloster Sea Gladiator N 5520, named Faith . It was one of three obsolete Gloster Gladiator biplanes, nicknamed Faith, Hope and Charity , stationed at the Hal Far airbase.

They constituted Malta’s entire air defense when war broke out with Italy in June 1940. Charity was shot down on July 29, 1940, Hope was destroyed in an air raid on February 4, 1941. Faith survived the war and was presented to the people of Malta by the RAF.

The museum also contains the jeep, nicknamed “Husky,” used to drive U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he met in Malta with Winston Churchill. The Malta Conference was held from January 30 to February 3, 1945. It was a prelude to the Yalta conference with Stalin that began on February 4.

It also houses the George Cross , which was awarded by George VI,

to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history.

This was the first time that the George Cross had been given to a collective group. An act only repeated once since then, when it was awarded, in 1999, to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

One Of The Entrances To The Underground Lascaris War Rooms

The most fascinating legacy of Malta’s WW II experience are the Lascaris War Rooms. Lascaris is an underground complex of tunnels and chambers that were hollowed out from the limestone escarpment on which Valletta sits. They housed the War Headquarters from which the defense of the islands was conducted during WW II. They also served as Eisenhower’s command center during the Allied invasion of Sicily.

The original underground chambers date back to the Knights of Malta. It was named for the Lascaris Battery, which was situated in a garden built originally by a Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, Giovanni Paolo Lascaris. In 1940, the British began to expand the tunnel complex, eventually transforming it into a 300,000-square foot underground headquarters, extending up to 150 feet below the surface of the St. Peter and St. Paul bastion built by the Knights to defend Valletta.

Each of the fighting services had operations rooms in the Lascaris complex from which they coordinated the defense of Malta, convoy escorts and other military operations. The main operational command was the Combined Operations Room (COR), which coordinated inter-service operations. It was also tied into the four radar stations that surrounded the islands and was responsible for issuing air raid warnings.

Lascaris' "crypto rooms" also housed the Typex, or Type X, machines.  Typex were encryption machines for secure communications that were based on an early version of the commercial Enigma machine. Unlike Enigma, that utilized three or, in the later versions, four rotors, the Typex machines utilized five rotors, making the encryption more secure.

Originally adopted by the RAF, the later models were widely used by British and many commonwealth armed forces. Typex machines continued to be used until the 1950s, and, in the case of New Zealand, until 1973.

There has been one report that Lascaris was also an important base for the deciphering of German Enigma traffic and the encoding of Ultra messages between 1939 and 1943.

Malta had a sizeable Signals Liaison Unit headquartered in Lascaris that intercepted Italian and German communications in the Mediterranean theater. It’s not clear, however, whether the signals were deciphered in Malta or they were simply forwarded to Bletchley Park. Officially all Enigma traffic was deciphered at Bletchley.

In addition, naval operations were overseen from the Navy Plotting Room, while the Anti-Aircraft Guns Operations room was responsible for the island’s air defense. Fighter Command Operations oversaw the fighter squadrons based on the island, as well as rescue operations for downed pilots.

RAF Fighter Command Operations Room At Lascaris During WW II

Restored RAF Fighter Command Operations Room at Lascaris

There was also a Coast Defense Room, which was responsible for the defense of Malta in the event of an amphibious invasion. Finally, there was a Radar Filter Room that displayed the status of the armed forces deployed on and around Malta and the latest naval intelligence from the naval station at neighboring Auberge de Castille. Today, that building houses the office of Malta’s Prime Minister.

Lascaris was steadily expanded between 1940 and 1943. It also served as the Advanced Allied HQ from which General Eisenhower, along with Royal Navy Admiral Cunningham, General Montgomery and RAF Air Marshall Tedder, directed Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. Approximately 1,000 people worked in the complex during the war.

After the war, Lascaris became the Headquarters of the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet. It played an active part during the Suez Crisis of 1956. In 1967, the facility was taken over by NATO, as its Naval Headquarters in Malta, as well as a strategic communication center for tracking Soviet submarines in the Mediterranean.

During the NATO period, the complex was expanded with the addition of even deeper chambers, although these were never finished. The facility was eventually abandoned after NATO shifted its Central Mediterranean headquarters from Malta to Italy in 1973.

Status Board at RAF Fighter Command Operations Room at Lascaris

In 2009, the Government of Malta leased the Lascaris complex to the Wirt Artna Foundation (Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna/FWA). The FWA is a private foundation that has relied on private donations to rehabilitate the Lascaris complex and open it to the public as a tourist attraction. Open since 2010, it has become a popular tourist destination, especially for military history buffs.

During the war, an extensive system of underground air raid shelters was built throughout the islands. A number of these shelters have been preserved and are open to the public. One shelter forms part of the Malta at War Museum in Birgu, on the opposite side of Grand Harbor from Valletta. From the museum, it’s possible to descend into the shelter, some 30 feet below the surface, and walk through the complex.

Boat taxis will take you across from the old customs house below Valletta to the Birgu dock. The 10-minute crossing costs two euros.

For Malta, the Second World War started when fascist Italy invaded France on June 10, 1940. Within hours of the Italian declaration of war, Italian air forces staged their first air raid on the island. Mussolini’s government had long claimed Malta. With the collapse of France imminent and Great Britain’s, Mussolini believed, not far behind, the Italian dictator expected that Malta would quickly surrender.

Italy already controlled Libya, 120 miles to the south of Malta, as well as the other principal islands in the central Mediterranean, Lampedusa and Pantelleria. With Sicily just 60 miles to the north, control of Malta would have given Italy complete control of the central Mediterranean and put Italy’s armed forces in a strong position to block transit between the western and eastern basins of the Mediterranean.

The initial concern, however, had been the danger of a lethal gas attack. Italy had used aerially dropped gas against both military and civilian targets during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War from 1935-37. Given Malta’s small size, it was feared it was particularly vulnerable to a gas attack from the air. British authorities had already issued gas masks to every inhabitant of the island, along with detailed instructions on how to create a gas shelter in homes and stock it with a two-week supply of food and water.

Makeshift Surginal Bay In The Birgu Air Raid Shelter

After the air raids began, work began on digging underground shelters. These were completed within a month, and steadily expanded over the course of the war. The larger shelters could house hundreds of people and included kitchens and hospitals. As the air attacks on Malta intensified, civilians often found themselves in the air raid shelters for days at a time; often, when electrical power was knocked out, in the dark. Sanitation facilities consisted of little more than a bucket issued to each family.

Fort Rinella, just a few miles from the entrance to Grand Harbour, hosts one of the two largest front-loaded cannons in the world. Technically this was a gun battery not a fort, although that is how it is currently described. It is not part of Malta’s WW II heritage. The guns were installed in 1877 and decommissioned in 1906.

The rifled cannons had a diameter of 17.72 inches and could fire a 2,000-pound shell approximately 6,000 yards. At 2,000 yards, the shells could penetrate 21 inches of armor plating. By comparison, the armor plating on the Bismarck was only 13 inches.

Built originally by the Elswick Ordnance Company, the armaments division of the British manufacturing company Armstrong Whitworth, the guns were rejected by the British government as too expensive. When the Italian Navy ordered 15 of them to arm its two newest battleships, the British military changed its mind and ordered four guns, two each, to guard the harbor entrances at Malta and Gibraltar. The guns were only test fired a handful of times, and never saw any military action.

Fort Rinella's Giant Gun

Fort Rinella is another military site operated by the FWA. Along with Heritage Malta, they have been responsible for restoring many of Malta’s WW II sites.

Perhaps the most iconic WW II site in Malta is the ruin of Valletta’s Royal Opera House. The building was devastated by German bombers on April 7, 1942. The ruin was eventually converted into an open-air theater and has hosted performances since 2010.

The Ruins of the Royal Opera House Now House An Open Air Theatre, The Pjazza Teatru Rjal

There are a variety of other WW II sites in Malta. The warning towers built by the Knights of Malta were all in line of sight of the neighboring towers and used signal fires to alert the island of an approaching raid by Barbary pirates. Some of the towers were later used by British military forces as fortified observation posts. In addition, there are a dozen gun batteries, mostly abandoned, built by the British during the late 19th and 20th century. Some of these have been restored and are open to visitors.

The Wirt Artna Foundation and Heritage Malta have succeeded in restoring many of Malta’s most important World War II sites, although there is still much work to be done. If you are interested in military history, or just curious to learn more about Malta’s pivotal role during World War II, then the island’s WW II legacy is well worth exploring.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Vittoriosa and Valletta Full Day Second World War Tour

• Local taxes
• Live commentary on board
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Food and drinks
• Departure Point: Hotel transport is provided from the following areas at the following time: Cirkewwa at 8:30 hrs Mellieha at 8:40 hrs Xemxija at 8:50 hrs Golden Bay at 8:50 hrs St. Paul's Bay at 9:00 hrs Bugibba at 9:05 hrs Qawra at 9:10 hrs St. Julian's at 9:10 hrs Sliema at 8:55 hrs Valletta at 8:40 hrs Attard at 8:30 hrs Dates: See Availability Return point: Returns to original departure point
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Pushchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Infant seats available
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Fort St Elmo - National War Museum

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Fort St Elmo - National War Museum Stop: 60 minutes See details
• 2 Vittoriosa Waterfront - Birgu Waterfront Stop: 60 minutes See details
• 3 Grand Harbour Stop: 60 minutes See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• amyrN3595HS 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Shockingly bad airport transfer with a driver who should not be allowed to have contact with customers, ever! I booked shared airport transfers (minibus) with Supreme through Jayride. The transfer FROM the airport to my holiday apartment in Sliema was great. Waited quite a long time for the minibus, but when it arrived it was modern and comfortable, the driver was efficient, witty and pleasant, and gave us lots of info about Malta, the language, culture and people. However, my return to the airport at the end of my stay was absolutely dreadful. I was expecting a minibus again, as I hadn't been told otherwise. It was due to pick me up from my accommodation (not a hotel, an apartment in a residential street) at 13.25. I was at the door of the house from 13.00. At around 13.40 I called their office as my transfer hadn't arrived. I was told it was on its way and would be around 5 to 10 minutes. They called me back at 13.50 to say it had arrived. There was no minibus in sight. Eventually I called them back and they told me it was a car, and the driver was waiting on my street. I asked them to ask the driver to get out of the car so I could see them. After another 5 minutes or so the driver got out of the car, which was parked about 25m further up the street so had clearly passed me waiting in the open doorway. The driver was visibly annoyed with me and shouted at me that she had been there at 13.25 (she had not, as the office had told me she was 'on her way' at 13.40). She then berated me for closing the car door too hard. The car seemed to be someone's personal vehicle, but not, apparently, the driver's. There were 2 people already in the back of the car, and they said they'd seen me standing in the door and had suggested I was probably the person waiting to be picked up, but the driver had disregarded this. The driver then drove like an absolute maniac at well over the speed limits (I know driving in Malta is pretty wild, but this was actually very scary), all whilst talking to someone on her hands free (she did take both hands off the steering wheel while moving at speed to get her earphones out of the glove box though). At one point the lady in the back seat asked the driver to please go a little slower (I think she was becoming travel sick), and the driver was very rude to her, saying did she want to get to the airport quickly or not, and ' you are making me crazy'! She then very deliberately drove extremely slowly, well under the speed limit, presumably to make some kind of point. When we arrived at the airport, she again told the lady who had been sitting in the back seat that she drove her crazy, and as we all walked away from the car she yelled something after us in Maltese. Read more Written 17 April 2024
• Culture67034340393 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles DON,T GO WITH THEM!!! Very bad ,it,s terrible In victorie you stay only 45 minutes and at the blue lagoon 47 minutes ,and you cannot go in the water there Don,t go with them You pay 42 euro it,s 43 euro to much !!!! Read more Written 12 April 2024
• L7429ACmarkw 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Disappointed Not really a cruise, just a packed ferry ride. Blue Lagoon was very blue and water was warm, but rubbish everywhere, even in the water, and it was overcrowded. Read more Written 20 January 2024
• kaprielm2016 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Lovely boat trip Good trip and a very decent experience. Sailing through the open waters around Malta, the captain provided us with heaps of info about all the sights we saw. The crew was friendly and helpful. Lunch was provided on board and was really good. Towards the ends of the trip they gave us all fruit to finish off a great day. 3 stops along the way. Paradise beach for diving and lunch just off Maltese coast, another beach in Good, and finally blue lagoon for about 2 hours in Camino. The lagoon tends to get overcrowded with people but you can always find an empty spot for a swim and a snorkel dive. Finally some advice, if you want to get a good seat in the sun on top of the boat I suggest you get there early as it was first come first served. All in all a great experience. Read more Written 7 October 2023
• annia625 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Choose another company Just left the cruise. Our boat is the big blue and white one. No one said that the upper floor has an extra 10€ per person charge. Some French family said that they have specifically asked if they could sit on the top by paying 40€ because his mum would get dizzy. The guy that came to talk to us and 10 more people, was rude and scarcastic about why don’t we buy the boat and you should ask for an offer at the company. So I hope this reaches the HR. Unable to continue a dialogue he kept speaking over me and close to my face, with the same, few English words he knew and repeated himself. He then took my brochure to saw me that there is no such service included. The upper floor is not a service. It is just the upper floor of the boat we payed. The same guy(glasses, short, hairy and chubby) never gave us his name when we asked, but definitely he is the reason we write this review. And also that is his routine because he kept saying the same thing like a poem. It happens that we do the exact same job in Greece(tourist office, performing cruises to the islands) and, man we surely know how to work, how to address costumers and so do our employees. Your company just lost at least a 100€ from people that left today the upper floor, only because no one explained or talked in a nice way. If you sum up for the whole season , that’s a lot of salaries or money spend on refitting a boat. They offering you the sea view but instead you get this….and the pure french lady vomiting next to us. Read more Written 29 September 2023
• danieltZ798IZ 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Very bad, not recommended Never use The Supreme Cruises, is not what they say, always late, they don't respect theu schedulle, so be sure you don 't lost your plane, very crowded place, an old boat, is just a water taxi. The personall is very rude, you don' t have places to sit Read more Written 4 September 2023
• mscheema2003 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don't Bother Avoid - very badly organised. Overbook and cannot cope with demand. One hour in Gozo is a joke. Lack of information during trip and you don't know what's going on. Read more Written 1 September 2023
• JimIpswich 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Poorly organised Poorly organised tour. Due to construction work at Bugibba we had to get a bus to another port, where we had to wait for 45 minutes in blistering heat with very little instruction. When boat arrived it was chaos, with everyone pushing to get onboard. No queuing system and only half the passengers had their wristbands. A woman was shouting something but this could only be heard by a few people at the front. After 2 1/2 hours travelling we were dumped in Victoria with 1 1/4 hours to look round. Blue lagoon was too busy, with barely anywhere to sit and litter everywhere. The path to/from the boat was treacherous due to the crowds of people trying to get on and off the boat. Read more Written 27 August 2023
• Ghatotkatch 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Poor planning and execution by Supreme cruises - Avoid Supreme Cruises is poor at organizing multi destination cruises. They wasted time on departure and then did not have adequate buses on landing at Gozo. This resulted in us getting barely 1 hour in Gozo . At the Blue Lagoon, they dropped us off and gave 2 hours for folks which meant people barely had any time to swim . Food options were limited and the staff was more interested in convincing folks to sign up for speedboat rides. Read more Written 27 August 2023
• BryanCu4 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Spend the whole day waiting and travelling This is the worst tour I have been in my life. The boat left paradise bay after 1 hour wait in the middle of the afternoon which is so hot. There are no covers in the waiting area. As soon the boat arrive people push in the boat. The bus tour did not give you enough time to explore. The blue lagoon is a joke, full of cigarettes buds and trash everywhere. There also so many people around. The boat also arrive very late .. of course and took ages to get people on board. They did not drop us in paradise bay and have to take a bus which took ages to get back because they have to drop everyone in thier hotels. I spent most of my time waiting and travelling instead of the view and culture. Read more Written 23 August 2023
• X1572GSvickir 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Avoid Was awful. Not a boat trip as sold. A huge ferry absolutely rammed that dropped you off places with very little information as you were herded in massive crowds between ferries and busses. At blue lagoon was busy and unplesant not a pleasant cruise as advertised. Really disappointed wished we'd gone with a local provider offering that Read more Written 18 August 2023
• frenchietravelling 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don’t be fooled Complete misrepresentation. Explained as a tour stopping at Blue Lagoon, visit to Gozo then swim at Comino. €40 each. Like cattle boarded the boat. Some attempted commentary on way to Blue Lagoon. Stopped momentarily to snap a picture of the rock face and water Blue Lagoon. Off to Gozo. Disembarked ferry. Boarded a crowded bus. Dropped at Victoria (at speed) . No map, no directions or suggestions just meet back same place in one hour. Completely ridiculous as grossly inadequate time to really see or experience anything. Hurried back to where we were told to meet bus - not there instead on the other side of the road - so many missed first two buses leaving third totally crowded. Bus driver rude and clearly unhappy with the crowds and schedule. Back to wharf for Ferry - a different boat - to drop us to Comino for swim. Literally dropped us - as boat departs for another load - stuck on island for 2 1/2 hours not ounce of shade. No consideration for elderly or prams as goat country. Dropped back to a different port to where initially boarded - unknown to passengers - then jammed on a bus dropped back gradually to various towns meaning we arrived back a hour later than advised. Clearly a mass moving transport business v a tourist attraction. More research next time. Read more Written 15 August 2023
• Kelvjean 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Absolute waste of money Boat very overcrowded just interested in selling other boat trips on way back from Camino they lied said harbour was closed at sliema so had to go to Saint Paul’s bay and sit on a knackered old bus stopping at every hotel when got back to sliema there was the other boat in the dock absolute p?ss take would not recommend Read more Written 12 August 2023
• SimonB938 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Poor value and limited information The bus did do - more or less - what it said, but the audio guide was very hard to use, hard to hear, and limited in content. They operators also took out money for a full tour without explaining that at the time we were travelling we couldn’t complete a circle, leaving us abandoned part way around. Read more Written 5 August 2023
• kevinkA7791QK 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Supreme Cruises should rename to tourist trap cruises. Supreme Cruises well not really supreme. Overcrowded boats. We waited 1 hour after the departure time to cramp more people on the boat. Nothing was organized well and the times they said us what we have at each location was cut short. At the blue lagoon if you happen to deboard last you have like 30mins.(we were lucky und got off quite fast). Would really not recomend Supreme Cruises. Read more Written 2 August 2023

More to explore in Island of Malta

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Buy it with

Vittoriosa and Valletta Full Day Second World War Tour provided by Supreme Travel

• Short Breaks
• Gozo & Comino
• Swimming Spots
• Activities & Sports
• For the Family
• Sustainable Holidays
• Studying in Malta
• What’s On
• Book your trip
• Accessibility
• Transportation
• Who Can Help
• Live Malta Cams
• Essential Information
• Maps & Guides
• Tourist Info Centres

World War II

Along with the Great Siege of 1565 , the most documented period of Malta’s history is the Second World War . The Islands’ strategic location once again made it centre stage in the theatre of war in the Mediterranean: a key stronghold from which the Allies could sustain their North African campaign and from which they could launch their eventual attack on mainland Italy.

Before that happened though, the Islands were subject to some of the most severe bombardments of the entire war. The Maltese people may have ended the war with the distinction of being the only entire population to be awarded the George Cross , Britain’s highest civilian honour for bravery. But they also ended the war devastated: Malta holds the record for the heaviest, sustained bombing attack: some 154 days and nights and 6,700 tons of bombs.

The British were unsure of whether they could adequately retain or protect Malta. While a perfect strategic location , it was also a difficult place to defend. First Lord of the Admiralty, then Winston Churchill, decided that Malta was vital to war plans and important for supply lines.

Malta entered the war sharply and suddenly. The day after Mussolini declared war, the 10th June, 1940, Italian bombers attacked Valletta and its harbours. The British had only three biplanes on the Islands nicknamed Faith, Hope and Charity. You can see ‘Faith’, now restored, in the National War Museum , Fort St. Elmo, Valletta.

Malta became a base for Allied attacks on enemy ships plying supply routes to North Africa and on the Italian air and naval bases. In return the Islands were under constant attack , in a game of return fire. As Churchill predicted, Malta was vital to reducing the effectiveness of the enemy’s North African push. But that gain came at a price.

The Islands were always high on the enemy’s agenda. Stuka bombers based in Sicily were to pound Malta into submission. Malta’s record, that of the heaviest sustained bombing, took place in 1942, and is known as ‘The Siege of Malta’ : the 20th century warfare version of the Great Siege of 1565. From April throughout the summer that year, the Islands were pushed to the brink, almost to capitulation.

Miraculously, a supply convoy, or rather its bombed remnants, limped into Grand Harbour on 15 August. The severely damaged oil tanker, Ohio, and a couple of warships with limited rations, saved the Islands from submission and starvation. The ships were named the Santa Marija Convoy because the 15th August is the religious feast of the Virgin Mary. In 1943, Malta was one of the launch pads for the Allied invasion of Sicily and later push into Italy. The Italian navy surrendered on 8th September, by coincidence the very same day on which 378 years earlier the Great Siege had ended.

The end of the war saw the Islands economically and physically devastated . In 1947, the Islands were granted some £30 million to help rebuild. But it took several decades and further restructuring once the British forces left Malta completely in 1979, to rebuild the economy.

Vittoriosa and Valletta Full Day Second World War Tour

• Local taxes
• Live commentary on board
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Food and drinks
• Departure Point: Hotel transport is provided from the following areas at the following time: Cirkewwa at 8:30 hrs Mellieha at 8:40 hrs Xemxija at 8:50 hrs Golden Bay at 8:50 hrs St. Paul's Bay at 9:00 hrs Bugibba at 9:05 hrs Qawra at 9:10 hrs St. Julian's at 9:10 hrs Sliema at 8:55 hrs Valletta at 8:40 hrs Attard at 8:30 hrs Dates: See Availability Return point: Returns to original departure point
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Pushchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Infant seats available
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Fort St Elmo - National War Museum

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Fort St Elmo - National War Museum Stop: 60 minutes See details
• 2 Vittoriosa Waterfront - Birgu Waterfront Stop: 60 minutes See details
• 3 Grand Harbour Stop: 60 minutes See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• amyrN3595HS 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Shockingly bad airport transfer with a driver who should not be allowed to have contact with customers, ever! I booked shared airport transfers (minibus) with Supreme through Jayride. The transfer FROM the airport to my holiday apartment in Sliema was great. Waited quite a long time for the minibus, but when it arrived it was modern and comfortable, the driver was efficient, witty and pleasant, and gave us lots of info about Malta, the language, culture and people. However, my return to the airport at the end of my stay was absolutely dreadful. I was expecting a minibus again, as I hadn't been told otherwise. It was due to pick me up from my accommodation (not a hotel, an apartment in a residential street) at 13.25. I was at the door of the house from 13.00. At around 13.40 I called their office as my transfer hadn't arrived. I was told it was on its way and would be around 5 to 10 minutes. They called me back at 13.50 to say it had arrived. There was no minibus in sight. Eventually I called them back and they told me it was a car, and the driver was waiting on my street. I asked them to ask the driver to get out of the car so I could see them. After another 5 minutes or so the driver got out of the car, which was parked about 25m further up the street so had clearly passed me waiting in the open doorway. The driver was visibly annoyed with me and shouted at me that she had been there at 13.25 (she had not, as the office had told me she was 'on her way' at 13.40). She then berated me for closing the car door too hard. The car seemed to be someone's personal vehicle, but not, apparently, the driver's. There were 2 people already in the back of the car, and they said they'd seen me standing in the door and had suggested I was probably the person waiting to be picked up, but the driver had disregarded this. The driver then drove like an absolute maniac at well over the speed limits (I know driving in Malta is pretty wild, but this was actually very scary), all whilst talking to someone on her hands free (she did take both hands off the steering wheel while moving at speed to get her earphones out of the glove box though). At one point the lady in the back seat asked the driver to please go a little slower (I think she was becoming travel sick), and the driver was very rude to her, saying did she want to get to the airport quickly or not, and ' you are making me crazy'! She then very deliberately drove extremely slowly, well under the speed limit, presumably to make some kind of point. When we arrived at the airport, she again told the lady who had been sitting in the back seat that she drove her crazy, and as we all walked away from the car she yelled something after us in Maltese. Read more Written 17 April 2024
• Culture67034340393 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles DON,T GO WITH THEM!!! Very bad ,it,s terrible In victorie you stay only 45 minutes and at the blue lagoon 47 minutes ,and you cannot go in the water there Don,t go with them You pay 42 euro it,s 43 euro to much !!!! Read more Written 12 April 2024
• L7429ACmarkw 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Disappointed Not really a cruise, just a packed ferry ride. Blue Lagoon was very blue and water was warm, but rubbish everywhere, even in the water, and it was overcrowded. Read more Written 20 January 2024
• kaprielm2016 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Lovely boat trip Good trip and a very decent experience. Sailing through the open waters around Malta, the captain provided us with heaps of info about all the sights we saw. The crew was friendly and helpful. Lunch was provided on board and was really good. Towards the ends of the trip they gave us all fruit to finish off a great day. 3 stops along the way. Paradise beach for diving and lunch just off Maltese coast, another beach in Good, and finally blue lagoon for about 2 hours in Camino. The lagoon tends to get overcrowded with people but you can always find an empty spot for a swim and a snorkel dive. Finally some advice, if you want to get a good seat in the sun on top of the boat I suggest you get there early as it was first come first served. All in all a great experience. Read more Written 7 October 2023
• annia625 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Choose another company Just left the cruise. Our boat is the big blue and white one. No one said that the upper floor has an extra 10€ per person charge. Some French family said that they have specifically asked if they could sit on the top by paying 40€ because his mum would get dizzy. The guy that came to talk to us and 10 more people, was rude and scarcastic about why don’t we buy the boat and you should ask for an offer at the company. So I hope this reaches the HR. Unable to continue a dialogue he kept speaking over me and close to my face, with the same, few English words he knew and repeated himself. He then took my brochure to saw me that there is no such service included. The upper floor is not a service. It is just the upper floor of the boat we payed. The same guy(glasses, short, hairy and chubby) never gave us his name when we asked, but definitely he is the reason we write this review. And also that is his routine because he kept saying the same thing like a poem. It happens that we do the exact same job in Greece(tourist office, performing cruises to the islands) and, man we surely know how to work, how to address costumers and so do our employees. Your company just lost at least a 100€ from people that left today the upper floor, only because no one explained or talked in a nice way. If you sum up for the whole season , that’s a lot of salaries or money spend on refitting a boat. They offering you the sea view but instead you get this….and the pure french lady vomiting next to us. Read more Written 29 September 2023
• danieltZ798IZ 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Very bad, not recommended Never use The Supreme Cruises, is not what they say, always late, they don't respect theu schedulle, so be sure you don 't lost your plane, very crowded place, an old boat, is just a water taxi. The personall is very rude, you don' t have places to sit Read more Written 4 September 2023
• mscheema2003 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don't Bother Avoid - very badly organised. Overbook and cannot cope with demand. One hour in Gozo is a joke. Lack of information during trip and you don't know what's going on. Read more Written 1 September 2023
• JimIpswich 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Poorly organised Poorly organised tour. Due to construction work at Bugibba we had to get a bus to another port, where we had to wait for 45 minutes in blistering heat with very little instruction. When boat arrived it was chaos, with everyone pushing to get onboard. No queuing system and only half the passengers had their wristbands. A woman was shouting something but this could only be heard by a few people at the front. After 2 1/2 hours travelling we were dumped in Victoria with 1 1/4 hours to look round. Blue lagoon was too busy, with barely anywhere to sit and litter everywhere. The path to/from the boat was treacherous due to the crowds of people trying to get on and off the boat. Read more Written 27 August 2023
• Ghatotkatch 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Poor planning and execution by Supreme cruises - Avoid Supreme Cruises is poor at organizing multi destination cruises. They wasted time on departure and then did not have adequate buses on landing at Gozo. This resulted in us getting barely 1 hour in Gozo . At the Blue Lagoon, they dropped us off and gave 2 hours for folks which meant people barely had any time to swim . Food options were limited and the staff was more interested in convincing folks to sign up for speedboat rides. Read more Written 27 August 2023
• BryanCu4 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Spend the whole day waiting and travelling This is the worst tour I have been in my life. The boat left paradise bay after 1 hour wait in the middle of the afternoon which is so hot. There are no covers in the waiting area. As soon the boat arrive people push in the boat. The bus tour did not give you enough time to explore. The blue lagoon is a joke, full of cigarettes buds and trash everywhere. There also so many people around. The boat also arrive very late .. of course and took ages to get people on board. They did not drop us in paradise bay and have to take a bus which took ages to get back because they have to drop everyone in thier hotels. I spent most of my time waiting and travelling instead of the view and culture. Read more Written 23 August 2023
• X1572GSvickir 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Avoid Was awful. Not a boat trip as sold. A huge ferry absolutely rammed that dropped you off places with very little information as you were herded in massive crowds between ferries and busses. At blue lagoon was busy and unplesant not a pleasant cruise as advertised. Really disappointed wished we'd gone with a local provider offering that Read more Written 18 August 2023
• frenchietravelling 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Don’t be fooled Complete misrepresentation. Explained as a tour stopping at Blue Lagoon, visit to Gozo then swim at Comino. €40 each. Like cattle boarded the boat. Some attempted commentary on way to Blue Lagoon. Stopped momentarily to snap a picture of the rock face and water Blue Lagoon. Off to Gozo. Disembarked ferry. Boarded a crowded bus. Dropped at Victoria (at speed) . No map, no directions or suggestions just meet back same place in one hour. Completely ridiculous as grossly inadequate time to really see or experience anything. Hurried back to where we were told to meet bus - not there instead on the other side of the road - so many missed first two buses leaving third totally crowded. Bus driver rude and clearly unhappy with the crowds and schedule. Back to wharf for Ferry - a different boat - to drop us to Comino for swim. Literally dropped us - as boat departs for another load - stuck on island for 2 1/2 hours not ounce of shade. No consideration for elderly or prams as goat country. Dropped back to a different port to where initially boarded - unknown to passengers - then jammed on a bus dropped back gradually to various towns meaning we arrived back a hour later than advised. Clearly a mass moving transport business v a tourist attraction. More research next time. Read more Written 15 August 2023
• Kelvjean 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Absolute waste of money Boat very overcrowded just interested in selling other boat trips on way back from Camino they lied said harbour was closed at sliema so had to go to Saint Paul’s bay and sit on a knackered old bus stopping at every hotel when got back to sliema there was the other boat in the dock absolute p?ss take would not recommend Read more Written 12 August 2023
• SimonB938 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Poor value and limited information The bus did do - more or less - what it said, but the audio guide was very hard to use, hard to hear, and limited in content. They operators also took out money for a full tour without explaining that at the time we were travelling we couldn’t complete a circle, leaving us abandoned part way around. Read more Written 5 August 2023
• kevinkA7791QK 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Supreme Cruises should rename to tourist trap cruises. Supreme Cruises well not really supreme. Overcrowded boats. We waited 1 hour after the departure time to cramp more people on the boat. Nothing was organized well and the times they said us what we have at each location was cut short. At the blue lagoon if you happen to deboard last you have like 30mins.(we were lucky und got off quite fast). Would really not recomend Supreme Cruises. Read more Written 2 August 2023

More to explore in Island of Malta

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Buy it with

Vittoriosa and Valletta Full Day Second World War Tour provided by Supreme Travel

A Sheridan Leisure Website. MTA Operators License No. TRA/S/01.

• CONTACT US |

WWII & British History in Malta Tour

• Full Day Tour
• Pick up/Drop off included 0830hrs from Gozo Ferry Terminal/Cirkewwa/Marfa 0840hrs from Mellieha 0850hrs from Xemxija/Golden Bay 0900hrs from St. Pauls Bay Area (incl. Bugibba & Qawra) 0910hrs from St. Julians Area (incl. Swieqi, Ibragg & San Gwann) 0855hrs from Sliema Area (incl. Gzira & Msida) 0840hrs from Valletta Area (incl. Cruise Ship Terminal & Floriana) 0830hrs from Central localities 0830hrs from Southern localities You will be dropped off at the same pick up point Times above are for guidance only and the actual time is confirmed to you on the Service Voucher which you will receive after booking. When finalising your booking you must add your accommodation details (hotel, guest house, apartment address etc…) so we can allocate a suitable pick up point and time. If you have any queries regarding pick up locations, points and times do not hesitate to get in touch via our Contact Us page.">
• Air Raid Shelters entrance included
• Malta War Museum entrance included
• Accompanied by Licensed Tour Guide
• FLEXI Cancellation

Additional Information

Book this experience.

Tour starts at :

As this tour is due to depart within the next 3 days we need to recheck tour availability.

Add your email address, phone number and location. We will notify you as soon as possible.

Due to the limited availability of this service, we need to reconfirm with the operator if they still have availability.

Add your email address, phone number and pick up location (if applicable). We will notify you as soon as possible.

Booking Terms & Conditions

Rated 98% based on 1029 reviews

UK   0345 475 1815   USA (toll free)   877‑209‑5620   International   00 44 345 475 1815 [email protected] Rated 98% on feefo

Sign-in Latest News Subscribe Request Brochure

• Future Planning
• Military History and Battlefield Tours
• Classical History and Archaeological Tours
• Holocaust Tours
• General History Tours
• Experience Tours
• Walking Tours
• Early Periods
• 17th & 18th Century
• Victorian Era
• First World War
• Second World War
• Cross-Periods
• Destinations
• Our Expert Historians
• Historians Q&A
• Historical Tailor Made Tours
• School Tours
• Battlefield Studies
• Testimonials
• What to Expect
• Activity Levels
• Tour Diaries & Images
• Our Library
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Work For TCE
• General Booking Conditions
• Download Booking Form
• Tours by Date
• Tours by Theme
• Tours by Period
• Tours by Destination
• Latest News
• Request Brochure

Fortress Malta

From the knights of st john to world war two.

Experience Tours General History Tours Military History and Battlefield Tours

6th - 13th November 2024 (8 Days)

Expert Historian : Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Tour price: £2,795

click here to book

Your Holiday Essentials

6th - 13th November 2024 (8 Days)

5-star hotel, meals as indicated,

drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,

tour manager and expert historian

throughout, all internal travel,

optional travel from UK.

Activity Level : 2

Standard price: £2,545

Incl. travel from UK: £2,795 Room sole occupancy supplement: £425 Non-refundable deposit: £500

Booking open

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Introduction

This is a wonderfully varied and scenic tour of Malta – a tiny island with a warm welcome and proud military and cultural heritage. The Second World War siege will be our main focus, but we also examine the indelible marks that other cultures and events have left behind: the unspoilt ancient walled city of Mdina, the renaissance architecture of the Knights of St John, the brief occupation by Napoleon and the extant Victorian fortifications. We will enjoy coastal drives, a harbour tour, a break on the island of Gozo, visit superb palaces and fortresses, see underground shelters and secret command posts, and many other places of interest on this wonderful and friendly Mediterranean island. Throughout we will be based in historic Valetta with its heritage sites and excellent restaurants – a wonderful holiday for military, cultural and culinary enthusiasts alike.

Malta has stood at the strategic crossroads of the Mediterranean for centuries, its history shaped by successive incomers: ancient Phoenicians, Romans and Arabians, the Knights of St John, Napoleon and the British. It was the scene of two of the most cataclysmic sieges in military history: the Great Siege of 1565 when the Knights of St John held out against vastly superior Ottoman forces; and the Second World War siege of 1940-43 when British and Maltese forces and civilians together held out against the might of Hitler and Mussolini, making a significant contribution to the success of the land campaign in North Africa, naval operations in the Mediterranean and, indeed, the outcome of the Second World War itself. There are striking similarities between the two sieges; the spirit of The Knights’ earlier struggle inspired their 20th Century successors to fight on against seemingly impossible odds.

• Based throughout in the centre of historic Valetta
• Discover the Great Siege of 1565
• Fabulous Military, Gothic and Baroque architecture
• Learn the fascinating story of the Knights of St John
• Explore and interpret the island's extensive fortifications 
• The best part of a day on Gozo
• A thorough study of Malta's heroic and epic defence during WW2
• All in the company of expert historian and retired general,  Ashley Truluck

What's Included

• Expert historian throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
• Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
• 5 Star Hotel
• Buffet breakfast each morning
• Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
• Return flights from London (optional)
• Dedicated Tour Manager
• Helpful and friendly travel advice
• Tour information booklet
• Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
• The company of like-minded travelers
• Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening

"Ashley’s thorough homework and handouts were a huge component of the tour’s success. Thank you."

Day 1: Fly to Malta. Arrive at Luqa airport, the former RAF Bomber Command airfield, and check-in to our Valetta hotel and base throughout the tour. After introductions and welcome drinks, walk to nearby Upper Barrakka Gardens to enjoy sunset over the Grand Harbour before dinner. (D)

Day 2: The Great Siege 1565. A pleasant walk along the harbour front to the northern end of Valetta peninsula with views over the Mediterranean. Enjoy the entertaining audio-visual ‘Malta Experience’, which portrays the island’s 7000 years of history, and time to explore the National War Museum. Discuss the epic defence of Valetta by the Knights of St John in 1565 at St Elmo’s Fort and visit the ‘Sacra Infermeria’, the original Hospital of the Order of St John, where patients famously dined on silver plates. (B,D)

Day 3: The Development of Valetta 1565-1800. Another day on foot wandering through Valetta’s golden streets to trace the development of the city’s fortifications & architecture during the rule of the Knights of St John after the Great Siege. Visit the Grand Master’s Palace, the traditional and current seat of Maltese government, where its rich tapestries record the country’s turbulent past, and its Armoury which houses one of the best collections of medieval weaponry in Europe. After lunch in the fashionable Grand Square, visit the Grand Master’s magnificent Cathedral which includes a wealth of art including works by Caravaggio, Rubens, and Poussin. Explore the Knights ‘auberges’ and city walls to discuss the genius of Valetta’s impregnable defences and see how the British subsequently adapted them for more modern uses. End the day at the Casa Rocca Piccola, home to a modern Knight of St John, the Marquis de Piro and his wife, for an intimate guided tour of their beautiful 16C Palace. (B,D)

Day 4: British Colonial Period 1800-1942. Drive along the scenic east coast stopping at the former Pembroke Army Garrison; eponymous St Paul’s Bay, where the saint was shipwrecked, and the scene of many historic events since; and Wignacourt, or St Paul’s Bay, Tower, the oldest surviving coastal defence post in Malta. Follow the impressive 19th century defensive Victoria Lines to Fort Rinella with its impressive 100-ton gun and watch demonstrations of Victorian soldiering. Dinner at your own expense this evening. (B)

Day 5: Gozo. Visit the Knights’ lookout at the Red Tower high up on Marfa Ridge with its splendid views. Ferry to Gozo and thence to the hilltop city of Ir-Rabat, or Victoria, to explore its fortified citadel, walk its dominating walls and visit the lavish Baroque cathedral. There will be some free time for personal exploration before returning to Valetta. (B,D)

Day 6: Second World War: The Maritime & Home Fronts. Experience a relaxing boat trip around Valetta’s magnificent harbours to see the site of the submarine base, discuss the Italian navy raid, the fight to save aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and the heroic Santa Maria Convoy. Disembark at Birgu wharf for lunch break in the old town square, followed by a visit to the strategically located Fort St Angelo (the Knights’ first, and the Royal Navy’s last, HQ in Malta) for spectacular panoramic views across Grand Harbour. The day ends at the Second World War Museum with its underground tunnels recounting the dramatic story of the civilian population under siege. Ferry back to Valetta. (B,D)

Day 7: Second World War: Land & Air Fronts. Coach tour of central Malta with stop-offs to view evocative evidence of Land defences, barracks and hospitals ending for a lunch break at the fascinating Mdina, the magnificent ancient capital of Malta. Drive to Ta’qali, the epicentre of the Air Battle and “the most bombed airfield of the 2WW” and home to the excellent Malta Aviation Museum. Thence a drive along the dramatic Dingli cliffs to discuss their contribution. (B,D)

Day 8: Second World War: Command & Control. Visit the Lascaris War Rooms, restored to give a fascinating glimpse of how the command bunker operated during Battle for Malta and as the operational HQ for the Invasion of Italy. The firing of the Noon Day Gun is the signal to take an early lunch, check-out and drive to the airport for return flights to London. (B)

Recommended Reading List

• Fortress Island Malta
• Fortress Malta: An Island Under Siege 1940-1943 (CASSELL MILITARY PAPERBACKS)
• Malta 1565 - Last Battle of the Crusades
• The Fortifications of Malta 1530-1945 (Fortress)
• The Great Siege of Malta 1565’

Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Ashley Truluck is a History graduate with a life-long fascination for Military History. As a soldier, he served worldwide with the Gurkhas, in Communications and Intelligence, with Army Aviation and on the General Staff, retiring as a Major General. Throughout that time he led battlefield studies – a passion he has carried over into his second career. He is now Chairman of the Army Society for Historical Research and leads a number of popular tours to Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain and Malta.

Photo Gallery

• The Guard of the Grand Master of the Knights of St John parading in Fort St
• Our tour group atop the largest gun in Europe
• Watching the cannons
• Grand Harbour
• Grand Master's Cathedral
• Group photo
• Cannon firing across the harbour
• Bridge over the Coa

Tour Reviews

Take a look at some of the images taken on our most recent tour

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

direct link

Subscribe to Our E-Newsletter

For up to date news as well as details about all of our tours please subscribe to our fortnightly e-newsletter

Quick Links

Military History and Battlefield Tours Classical History and Archaeological Tours Holocaust Tours General History Tours Experience Tours Walking Tours Future Planning Request Brochure Site Map

The Cultural Experience 11B Mansfield Park Four Marks Alton GU34 5PZ United Kingdom

UK: 0345 475 1815 USA (toll free): 877 209 5620 International: 00 44 345 475 1815

[email protected]

© 2015 - 2024 Midas Tours Ltd - Hosted by SWD  -  Legal Info  -  Terms of Use  -  Privacy Policy / Cookies  -  Sign-in

• New & Now
• Plan Your Visit
• Things To Do
• Where To Stay
• Restaurant Directory

Without a doubt, our little rock in the middle of the Med played an important role during the battles of World War II . The island was modified as it became a military base, and one important site was the Lascaris War Rooms and the War Headquarters in Valletta.

Lascaris War Rooms / Facebook

During a restoration, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna came across what was a long lost part of the original headquarters – a massive underground bunker. The rediscovered area started being built around 1941 but was never finished due to the war having ebbed away in 1943, while it was still under construction. The fascinating bunker is being opened to the public for a one-time event on 17th March . 

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna via Special Tour of the Unfinished Bunker / Facebook

The first-ever guided tour of the bunker

After being abandoned for 70 years, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is offering the public the chance to witness the grandeur and uncover the secrets of the unfinished bunker. The hour-long introductory tour will begin at 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm on Sunday 17th March. Each explorer will be given a printed history, which includes archive maps of the war rooms.

Hard hats will be distributed, and personal torches and sensible shoes are to be brought along. A maximum of 150 visitors will be allowed in on the day across the three tours, so booking is essential! The tour will be against a fee of €15 for adults, €10 for members and €5 for kids. You can book your place for this incredible event here .

Saluting Battery / Facebook

A jump back through time

The unfinished bunker is located on two levels within the subsoil of the St Peter and Paul Counterguard in Valletta, covering an area of some 8,000 square metres. The envisioned plan for this area was to build an accommodation and office space, as well as an operations space. The accommodations and office were built and modernised, however works on the second part came to a halt as skilled miners were needed elsewhere.

Ernest Ferrante via Malta In Photographs / Facebook

By the time enough labour became available in mid-1942, the war momentum changed and plans for the bunker did too. As the war switched gears in favour of the allies, it also ebbed away from Malta. By the end of the year, almost all facilities in the Lascaris Ditch were closed down or briefly deserted in favour of moving them out to the airfields. Plans to complete the bunker were initially suspended, leaving all the machinery and equipment in place, but eventually all was forgotten.

Simon Cusens via The Malta George Cross Movement / Facebook

Some years later in the early 1950s, the matter was briefly resuscitated by the War Department, but it was immediately stalled, this time for good. Orders were give to block all access and the area was permanently sealed and forgotten. Due to this impromptu decision, the interior of the building has been frozen in time, with all the rails, mining carts and equipment still in place as if the workers were to come back to carry on their mining work.

Will you be visiting this impressive time capsule?

1st March 2019

• Get in touch

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept", you consent to our use of cookies.

Sign Up and save all your favourite restaurants, attractions, events, articles and experiences for a later date and access them from any device.

Loading Search Results

• About Heritage Malta
• Accessibility
• Annual Reports
• Departments Directory
• Leaflets and Brochures
• Meet the Team
• View all Subsidiaries
• Diagnostic Science Laboratories
• Exclusive Venues
• Merchandising, Publications and eBooks
• Taste History
• Conservation
• Digitisation
• Education & Outreach
• Exhibitions
• IT Department
• The Technology and Experience Development Unit 
• Publishing and Didactic Resources
• Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit
• Become a Member
• Opening Hours

Harbour Cruise – World War II

All hands on deck! Heritage Malta presents the Harbour Cruise – World War II, in honour of World Ocean Day on Thursday, 8 June 2023. Join us on a historical journey through the harbours flanking the victorious city of Valletta, the main target of Axis air raids during World War II.

Led by our Senior Curator for Fortifications, Matthew Balzan, and Head of Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, Prof. Timmy Gambin, this cruise will re-trace the dramatic history of the Second Great Siege of Malta, which transformed the area between 1940 and 1943.

Imagine the bombs raining down on the fortifications and military installations of our beleaguered capital and learn more about the underwater heritage that stud the seabed.

Tickets are available now at only €17 for adults, €15 for seniors and students, and €10 for children and Heritage Malta members. Presentation of HM membership cards will be requested on the day.

As seats are limited, we highly recommend booking your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. So gather your friends and family and make sure you join us at 18:00 at the meeting point, Sliema Ferries, opposite Marks and Spencer.

Tickets can be purchased at any of our museums and sites or online here .

08 Jun 2023

Thursday: 18.30

Sliema, Malta

Adults €17

Seniors €15

Students €15

Children €10

Members €10

Getting Here

Public Transport

The closest bus stop is 4 minutes on foot. Interested in getting here by public transport?

You may also like

In-guardia & fort st elmo and the national war museum.

Experience a captivating historical re-enactment every scheduled Sunday at Fort St Elmo,…

14 Jan 2024 - 15 Dec 2024

Ta’ Bistra Catacombs Monthly Opening

Ta’ Bistra Catacombs will be welcoming the general public every last Sunday…

28 Jan 2024 - 29 Dec 2024

maltabiennale.art 2024

Be part of the inaugural edition of maltabiennale.art, a celebration of art,…

13 Mar 2024 - 31 May 2024

Fireworks Festival 2024

Please Note: Due to unfavourable weather, this event will be postponed to…

03 May 2024

Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta Special Opening

Make it a grand Sunday! On Sunday 5th May, Heritage Malta is…

05 May 2024

Biennale By Night!

On the 10th of May, Heritage Malta invites you to take part…

10 May 2024

Square dancing, fly fishing and WWII: 99-year-old Pace man longs to see Allegheny Mountains

Square dancing was always a love for 99-year-old Pace resident Tom Palmer, so it's fitting that's how he met his wife, Diane. But he also has a passion for the outdoors, which is why he and Diane spent years traveling throughout the western United States.

Palmer's century-long life has been so filled with work and fun with Diane that he often doesn't put a lot of stock in the three-year period from 1943 to 1946 when he served the Navy during World War II .

"I don't think that we're very unique myself," Palmer said. "There's a lot of them out here ... so I don't figure myself as unique."

Palmer was one of 11.5 million people drafted into the military between 1941 and 1945 , according to the National WWII Museum, but he says that he didn't do anything "heroic," he just did "what everyone else was doing."

"I just lived longer than them," he said.

Palmer was drafted to serve in the U.S. military while he was still in high school, but they allowed him finish before enlisting. The day after his high school graduation in 1943, he hopped on a bus to San Francisco and then took a train to Idaho to begin boot camp.

Palmer spent most of his time on the USS Prince Georges , a ship that primarily transported personnel and weaponry. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, the Prince Georges embarked on numerous operations including to the Battle of Tarawa, the Battle of Kwajalein and the invasion of Saipan.

Despite spending his first three years after high school on the Prince Georges, the former petty officer 2nd class reminisces on the glorious years after the war he spent learning the electric trade and and trying to grow as an adult, saying he was still a kid but "just didn't know it."

Wright Brothers Master Pilot: This master pilot and mechanic loves flying so much, a hangar's attached to his kitchen

"I did various jobs, got good jobs and changed and quit them, but I still hadn't grown up yet," Palmer said. "I hopped around until I got into the electrical trade, and the last 30 to 40 years (of my career) I pursued the electrical trade."

He worked his way up from a lineman to an industrial electrician where he finished his career at an aluminum reduction plant in Ferndale, Washington.

After a first marriage that "didn't work out," Palmer says his fond memories of traveling began after meeting Diane at the age of 69 while they were square dancing. Many dances and good memories later, they were married a year later in 1994.

"One year to the day," Diane Palmer said. "We've been married 30 (years). I figured we were married that whole year we first met.

"I quit my job and we started traveling together," she added.

That began their extensive RV travel all across the the western U.S., including Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, California, Arizona and New Mexico.

Among those places, the Palmers never stayed away from Idaho Falls, Idaho, for too long. The city hugs the Snake River and isn't too far from Yellowstone National Park, where they both worked during the summers for five years.

Idaho Falls also brought Tom what Diane says is "his first love besides his wife" − fly fishing.

"I was a fly fisherman, and my wife was very good about going along with me," Tom said as he chuckled. "She went right along with me in the outdoors."

After spending much of their lives on the west coast and much of their marriage in Idaho, health complications brought them to Pace in 2019 and ended their times of constant travel. Not being able to travel hasn't kept the nearly 100-year-old from dreaming, or maintaining a bucket list, however.

With the many years of travel behind them, there's still one place Tom wants to see − the Allegheny Mountains.

"From what I understand, the Alleghenies are just as beautiful (as the mountains in Idaho), but I've never been there, which I want to do," he said. "That was one trip we wanted to make we never did."

Even though their traveling days are behind them, Tom says he's not "giving up" by complaining or looking at the downside of his situation, saying it's only natural for "your capabilities to be reduced" as you age.

"You have to keep this going," he said as he pointed to his head. "There's nothing to be gained by sitting back with self pity. I like to keep a positive attitude."

In the foreseeable future, Tom plans on sitting back and watching birds fly from his back porch and keeping his mind sharp as he gears up for his 100th birthday in June, but most importantly he plans to continue spending time with his wife.

"We were just meant to be together," he said.

Hamas releases video of 2 hostages as Blinken set to travel to region

Hamas on Saturday released a video of two hostages it is holding in Gaza, including one who is a dual U.S. citizen, as the group said it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal to halt the fighting and bring some of the captives home.

The video, which lasts just over three minutes, shows U.S.-born Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 47, from a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip border. The families of the two men confirmed their identities in a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a volunteer advocacy group.

“The proof of life from Keith Siegel and Omri Miran is the clearest evidence that the Israeli government must do everything to approve a deal for the return of all the hostages before Independence Day,” which is on May 14, the statement said.

The men were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7, when the group and allied fighters stormed southern Israel and rampaged through local communities, killing around 1,200. More than 250 others were abducted that day, and over 100 were released during a temporary truce in November. Israel says 133 hostages are still in Gaza, 36 of whom are confirmed dead.

The video on Saturday, which was posted on Hamas-affiliated social media channels, is undated. But the pair make references to the Jewish holiday of Passover, which ends on Tuesday, and to being held captive for more than 200 days, suggesting the footage is recent.

Omri’s father, Dani Miran, told Israel’s Channel 12 news that he was “in tears” the second he saw his son in the video, which was the first evidence he’s seen indicating that Omri, a husband and father of two, is still alive.

The clips of Miran and Siegel were screened Saturday evening at a rally in Tel Aviv in support of the hostages. “The video shook me and all the people of Israel,” Dani Miran said in an address to the crowd.

He called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve a cease-fire deal with Hamas that would secure the hostages’ release. “Take one small and bloodless step for both peoples,” he said. “All the people of Israel and the nations of the world want to see an end to the bloodshed.”

In a recorded video statement, Keith Siegel’s wife, Aviva, addressed her husband, saying: “Keith, I love you, we will fight until you return.” Aviva Siegel was also kidnapped on Oct. 7 and was held for 51 days before her release.

The images of Miran and Siegel came just days after similar footage was released by Hamas showing U.S.-Israeli citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Together, the videos renewed pressure on the Israeli government to negotiate a deal. For months, the talks have largely been stalled, with Israel seeking only a temporary truce and Hamas insisting any pause in the fighting be linked to a more permanent cease-fire.

Israel wants the hostages released and Hamas eliminated in Gaza. For its part, Hamas hopes Israel will agree to withdraw its troops and release some Palestinian prisoners.

On Saturday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the government could suspend a planned military operation in Rafah in southern Gaza if a deal is reached. Katz, who made the comments in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, is not part of Israel’s five-man war cabinet, which makes decisions on the country’s military operations.

Here’s what else to know

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel Monday to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where he will meet with Palestinian, Egyptian and Qatari leaders to discuss cease-fire efforts and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the State Department said.

An internal investigation into 12 U.N. relief workers in Gaza who Israel alleged were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack has cleared one person , “as no evidence was provided by Israel to support the allegations,” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary General António Guterres. Investigations into an additional three cases have been suspended because of insufficient evidence provided by Israel, he said, and eight cases remain under investigation by the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services.

Activists who organized an aid flotilla to Gaza said Saturday that their mission was canceled, after authorities from Guinea-Bissau withdrew their country’s flag from two of the three ships. The flotilla was scheduled to depart from a port near Istanbul on Friday after multiple delays. On Thursday, the Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry requested a last-minute inspection, activists said in a statement, calling the decision to remove the flags “blatantly political.”

At least 34,388 people have been killed and 77,437 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry , which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the dead are women and children. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and says 261 soldiers have been killed since its military operation in Gaza began.

Alon Rom, Claire Parker and Susannah George contributed to this report.

Israel-Gaza war

The Israel-Gaza war has gone on for six months, and tensions have spilled into the surrounding region .

The war: On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel that included the taking of civilian hostages at a music festival . (See photos and videos of how the deadly assault unfolded ). Israel declared war on Hamas in response, launching a ground invasion that fueled the biggest displacement in the region since Israel’s creation in 1948 .

Gaza crisis: In the Gaza Strip, Israel has waged one of this century’s most destructive wars , killing tens of thousands and plunging at least half of the population into “ famine-like conditions. ” For months, Israel has resisted pressure from Western allies to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave .

U.S. involvement: Despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. politicians , including President Biden, the United States supports Israel with weapons , funds aid packages , and has vetoed or abstained from the United Nations’ cease-fire resolutions.

History: The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mistrust are deep and complex, predating the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 . Read more on the history of the Gaza Strip .

• After Israeli strike in Iran, both sides appear to downplay incident April 19, 2024 After Israeli strike in Iran, both sides appear to downplay incident April 19, 2024
• Homes burned, animals killed: Palestinians describe Israeli settler rampage April 16, 2024 Homes burned, animals killed: Palestinians describe Israeli settler rampage April 16, 2024
• Six months of the Israel-Gaza war: A timeline of key moments April 7, 2024 Six months of the Israel-Gaza war: A timeline of key moments April 7, 2024