Malta’s capital (and the island in general) was one of the worst places to be bombed during the Second World War. Without a doubt, our rock played an important role during the battles of World War II, and the Lascaris War Rooms hold everything there is to know about this turbulent period.

A little bit about the war rooms

Malta was a naval base for the British troops during the war and needed the best means of protection. In order to carry out their tasks efficiently, the British created a system of underground tunnels, passageways and chambers to be able to defend the islands to the max. And that’s when the Lascaris War Rooms came to be.

Malta’s best kept secret

The rooms served the island greatly, with some of the most effective strikes plotted in the underground chambers. In 1977, however, the rooms were closed to the public and 32 years later in 2009, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna took the historical site under its wing and restored it. During the restoration works, the organisation came across a long lost part of the original headquarters – a massive underground bunker. It started being built in 1941 but was never finished since by 1943 the war had ebbed away.

A fascinating story

Many have wondered about the stories that went on the Lascaris War Rooms, and one former RAF pilot dug up information on the forgotten heroes of the war: the ladies. Paul Mcdonald writes about these women employed by the RAF (as young as 14 no less), to become aircraft plotters in his book, Ladies of Lascaris. We must say, it’s fascinating.

Have you visited the Lascaris War Rooms, yet?