Overlooking the Grand Harbour at Valletta form the Saluting Battery.
Built by the Order of St John in 1566 as part of Valletta, the Saluting Battery occupies a strategic position from where gun salutes were fired on public and religious occasions and also to greet visiting dignitaries and ships. During the 1800's, yet another role was added to it, that of signalling out the correct time. This was carried out at sunrise, noon and sunset. The first and last shots indicated the opening and closing of the town gates. The noon day gun was far more important, in that it marked the exact time of day, in order for the ship's masters to calibrate their timekeeping instruments on board. This was necessary for the navigation equipment.
Size: 4256px × 2831px
Location: Valletta, Malta
Photo credit: © locationshots / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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