You can soon relive one of the most pivotal moments from the Great Siege of Malta, 457 years after it actually happened.

Local museum and cultural heritage agency Heritage Malta has just revealed that, later on this month, a group of actors will be recreating scenes from the fall of Fort St Elmo at the hands of the Ottoman Forces at the fort itself.

Fort St Elmo bore the brunt of the Ottoman Forces’ wrath during the Great Siege of 1565, with attacks on the fort starting on 25th May.

Sandro Grima Tufigno / heritagemalta.mt

The Ottomans thought they were in for a quick win, however, the relatively small fort managed to withstand their onslaught for almost a month.

As the attackers slowly made progress against the fort’s outer walls, it was finally captured on 23rd June. Ironically, this is also the eve of the feast of St John the Baptist – the patron saint of the Knights at the forefront of the fort’s resistance.

None of the defending Knights survived the tragic fall of Fort St Elmo, and only nine of the Maltese inside the fort managed to get away by swimming across to Fort St Angelo.

Thinking of attending?

The event, titled ‘Anniversary of the Fall’ involve a number of re-enactments taking place on Sunday, 26th June between 10am and 4pm. Members of the re-enactment group Show of Arms will be performing.

Normal admission rates will apply and tickets can only be purchased from the door.

Sandro Grima Tufigno / heritagemalta.mt