Vittoriosa relives time of siege

The city of Vittoriosa yesterday welcomed the young Grand Master Ramon de Perellos for the inauguration of the Great Siege Victory Monument on Victory Square.

It is 1705 and the Grand Master has been in office for eight years. It was his wish to personally inaugurate the monument, 140 years after the Great Siege.

The re-enactment of the inauguration of the monument yesterday morning was part of the second edition of the Historic Cities Festival, organised by the Malta Tourism Authority.

The inauguration was the last of three re-enactments that took place yesterday, the first having been a recreation of how the Maltese population lived during the Great Siege while the second featured the rejoicing of the Maltese at the feast of Our Lady of Victory when the siege was lifted.

The first re-enactment highlighted how the Maltese, tending the wounded of the siege while taking part in the battle itself, carried on with life as best they could. That included participating in the Corpus Christi procession, which Grand Master de la Valette had insisted on holding despite the bombardments.

Then the scene shifted slightly fast forward in the second re-enactment to recall how, on September 8, 1565 celebrations were held as the Ottoman army departed and the siege ended.

Church bells pealed in celebration and the Maltese, dazed but happy, wondered whether to rejoice or mourn the dead.

A spontaneous procession was held to thank Our Lady for the victory, with many Maltese expressing their gratitude by taking part barefooted or on their knees.

The feast of Our Lady of Victory continues to recall the end of the Great Siege to this day.

By the time Grand Master Perellos arrived in Vittoriosa to inaugurate the Victory Monument 140 years later, the city was again a hive of activity.

The Grand Master arrived on the square accompanied by the Inquisitor, the Bishop and members of the nobility.

He was given a tumultuous welcome and a speech was delivered by the governor of Vittoriosa before he removed a large white drape which covered the monument. Soldiers fired a feu de jois in celebration.

The inauguration was met with the applause of both the city dwellers in period costume and Maltese visitors and tourists present for the event.

The Historic Cities Festival continued yesterday evening when power was switched off at Vittoriosa and visitors were allowed to get a taste of what life was like when the only lighting was provided by candles.

The festival ends on Sunday.