This Victory Day head to Fort St Angelo for historical celebrations with a twist!
This Sunday 8th September is Victory Day, a public holiday on the Maltese Islands that celebrates the end of three great periods in Maltese history: the Great Siege in 1565, the French occupation in 1800 and the armistice of the Fascist regime in Italy in 1943. In honour of these celebrations, Heritage Malta will be opening the incredible Fort St Angelo in Birgu, for what has become a traditional appointment.
Patrons can enjoy the historical site for a reduced admission fee of €2 and a fun-packed programme starting at 9am and carrying on throughout the day until 6pm. Fort St Angelo also happens to be one of the several fortresses chosen for European Fortress Days happening between 8th and 23rd September.
The fun-filled programme
Being a historically (and kinda also religiously) connected day, two masses will be celebrated: at 10am at the Chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin with a commemoration for the Victory of the Great Siege to follow, and at 12pm at the Chapel of St Anne in the upper part of Fort St Angelo.
Re-enactment groups Show of Arms, the Historical Re-enactment Group of Malta, the Malta Historical Fencing Association, Battlefront Living History Group and Malta Command will be animating some historical events for a fab day. Birds of Prey will also be displayed by Fridericus Rex Malta Falconers.
The temporary exhibition by Heritage Malta, ‘Behind Closed Doors Fort St Angelo & the Royal Navy 1906-1979’ will be open for one last day on the 8th. Two tours will be organised, one at 12pm and another at 3pm. As part of the closing celebration, visitors will also get the chance to meet several navy veterans who will also be joined by the Malta Sea Cadets.
In the afternoon there will be a special viewing of one of Malta’s most traditional events. At 2pm, visitors can view the Regatta races held every year in the Grand Harbour, and thanks to the fort’s strategic position at the tip of Birgu, visitors will have an excellent view!
The deets
The historical and prestigious Fort St Angelo will be welcoming visitors between 9am and 6pm, with the last admission at 5.30pm for just €2. Children under 12 years of age and Heritage Malta members enter for free.
For more information, visit Heritage Malta’s website or the Facebook page