The Lascaris War Rooms
About This Museum
Tucked deep beneath the bastions of Valletta, the Lascaris War Rooms are a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that once served as the Allied headquarters for the entire Mediterranean. It was from here, in rooms humming with the static of radios and the low light of map tables, that the invasions of Sicily and other crucial operations were planned. Walking through these corridors today, you can almost hear the echoes of clipped commands and feel the weight of the decisions made within these limestone walls. It's not so much a museum as it is a perfectly preserved piece of living history, frozen in time.
Collection Highlights
You'll stand in the very Filter Room where aircraft plots were tracked, see the original 'Q' teleprinters used for top-secret messages, and peer into the cramped Operations Room with its vast situation maps still on the walls. One of the most poignant sights is a simple wooden board where young Wrens would chalk up the numbers of returning aircraft, a silent testament to those who didn't make it back.
Visitor Information
Finding it is part of the adventure—look for the entrance in Lascaris Ditch, right across from the Valletta ferry terminal. The air down there stays cool year-round, so bring a light jumper. It's best to allow a good couple of hours to really take it all in.
Architecture & Building
This isn't a purpose-built structure but a network of hand-hewn tunnels and chambers carved directly into Malta's iconic globigerina limestone, expanded from earlier Knights' fortifications to serve as a bomb-proof command centre.
Contact & Location
Address: Central Bank of Malta, Misraħ Kastilja, L-Arċipierku, Il-Belt Valletta, Xlokk, VLT 1060, Malta
Phone: +356 2123 4717
Website: Visit Website
