The exhibition '8 September: The First National Day' invites visitors to reflect on three formative historical events for the Maltese nation: the end of the Great Siege in 1565, the capitulation of the French in 1800, and the declaration of Italy’s armistice in the Second World War in 1943.
Open from Friday 29th August and running till Sunday 14th September 2025 in the Throne Room at the Grand Master's Palace, Valletta, this exhibition features a considerable number of artefacts from the national collection which will be exhibited together for the occasion.Notable amongst these are original medals and coins from the time around the Great Siege – of which this year we commemorate the 460th anniversary, engravings and frescoes by Perez d'Aleccio depicting scenes from this historic battle, medals presented to Maltese heroes after the French blockade, a handwritten sonnet by the Maltese forces who fought against the French, and a collection of items relating to Italy’s exit from the Second World War.
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept", you consent to our use of cookies.
Sign Up and save all your favourite restaurants, attractions, events, articles and experiences for a later date and access them from any device.