| Pinto Battery | |
| Native Name: | Batterija ta' Pinto |
| Location: | Birżebbuġa, Malta |
| Type: | Artillery battery |
| Coordinates: | 35.8267°N 14.5329°W |
| Ownership: | Government of Malta |
| Controlledby: | Private tenants |
| Open To Public: | No |
| Built: | 1715–1716 |
| Builder: | Order of Saint John |
| Materials: | Limestone |
| Condition: | Blockhouse intact but heavily altered, gun platform largely destroyed |
Pinto Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Pinto), also known as Għżira Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Għżira) or Kechakara Battery,[1] is a former artillery battery in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John in 1715 and 1716 as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the coasts of the Maltese Islands. The battery has been heavily altered over time, and the blockhouse now houses a bar and a garage, while the gun platform and parapet have been largely destroyed, with only the general outline still visible.
Pinto Battery was built in 1715-1716 as part of the first building programme of coastal batteries in Malta. It was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.[2] Construction of the battery cost 1109 scudi.[3]
The battery originally consisted of a semi-circular gun platform, with a parapet containing eight embrasures. Its gorge had a large rectangular blockhouse protected by a redan. The battery's entrance was located within the redan.[4] It was originally armed with cannons.[2]
The battery has undergone major alterations over time, being largely destroyed in the process. The redan has been destroyed, while the blockhouse is a bar and a garage. The general outline of the semi-circular gun platform is still visible, although the parapet with embrasures no longer exists.[4]