Experience part of our history

This Shelter today provides a better understanding of the life led by the Maltese during the Second World War, where locals and tourists alike may relive the experience of descending into the depths of this underground maze to bear witness to the harsh reality of the life in a shelter.

The Shelter served as both as a home and a temple, as well as a place of refuge for the people of Mgarr during the wrath of the enemy blitz during the Second World War. It was also a place where families spent long hours and where children learnt their first and toughest lessons about life and the world in which they would grow up. For us, the shelter represents something which we would want to relive today, and a reminder of a life we would never want to return to.

Access to the Shelter is through the Restaurant, and guided tours are offered from Tuesday to Sunday.

Mgarr during World War II

Malta’s war started with Italy’s declaration of war on Britain on June 10th, 1940 and lasted till the unconditional surrender of the same country on September 8th, 1943. Throughout this period the Maltese islands were incessantly bombed from the air.

At the start of the war, some natural caves found in Mgarr, cellars beneath private buildings and those found under the Mgarr church were used as shelters during the night. However when Mgarr experienced a big influx of refugees from places which were being heavily bombarded, the need for more shelters was felt. Only on the first day of the war, around 600 refugees from Zabbar arrived in Mgarr. Other people arrived from Msida, Sliema, Vittoriosa and Valletta. Shelters started being dug and in fact there were about 30 of these around the village. The need for more health facilities including maternity ones was being felt more and therefore a room in the shelter was turned into a clinic.

As there was fear of gas attacks, gas masks were distributed to everyone and people were taught how to put them on and how to act during a gas attack. When people started suffering hunger, a Victory Kitchen which was run by the Franciscan Sisters was opened in Mgarr.

The most bombarded area in Malta was the area around the Grand Harbour. However Mgarr had its share too. To defend against air attacks several fortresses equipped with canons were built in the areas around Mgarr. There were also several posts with search lights to track down the enemies’ airplanes during the night so they could be targeted easier from the fortresses.

In Ghajn Tuffieha which is in close proximity to Mgarr, a centre for the treatment of the injured was in operation whereas in Ta’ Qali there was the military aerodrome. All these strategic points of British defence placed Mgarr in the line of fire of the enemies’ war planes. On the 17th September 1940 an Italian war plane was struck and fell near Palazzo Zammitello. Its pilot, Francesco Cavallo used the parachute to save himself and landed in L-Iskirvit limits of Mgarr. Remains of this particular war plane can be seen in the Shelter till this day.