Evoking a siege mentality among Sengleans

I would like to make some comments about the Heritage Trail that was publicised in The Times (September 5) under the title Siege Mentality. This title can also be applied to the people of Senglea (Sengleans), noting the path to be followed during this Great Siege Heritage Trail. The term siege mentality may be given a dual meaning, and, in this case, I am referring to the siege mentality that the trail may evoke among the Sengleans.

The fact that Senglea has been omitted demonstrates a downsizing scenario of the importance and share that this city had in the Great Siege.

The trail starts from Valletta and ends in Vittoriosa. It is sad and disappointing that such a trail, organised by Heritage Malta, does not include the important cities that were involved during the siege. I am no historian but this trail raises a number of questions with regard to the siege and Senglea because this city, according to a number of sources, had an important share in the siege. What were the criteria used to include the stations of the trail? Why was Senglea omitted from this trail?

If one surfs the net for some information about this subject, two web pages are likely to be encountered. These are the websites of the city's local council (www.islalocalcouncil.com/historicalinfo.htm) and that called Storia Libera (www.storialibera.it). The first site features an article with the title After My Struggle I Emerged Undefeated (Quo Pugna Vi Invicta Consido) and posted in the second are, among others, two frescoes by Matteo Perez d'Aleccio which depict The Siege of Senglea - June 28, 1565 and The Assault on Senglea - July 15, 1565 respectively. The irony is that this trail will start with a talk on the frescoes of D'Aleccio that are found in the Palace within the Grandmaster's State Rooms.

I do hope that in organising historical events the real facts are recounted as they have occurred, with the important elements being given their real value in terms of importance.