Birgu and the Great Siege

Ray Bondin (The Sunday Times, August 28) is to be congratulated for his foresight and for recommending that preparations to mark the 450th anniversary of the Great Siege in 2015 be undertaken as soon as possible. His suggestion for a Great Siege Museum deserves strong support.

The Great Siege of 1565 is inextricably linked with Birgu, which after the siege became known as Vittoriosa, because it was there that the victory over the invading Turks was won and celebrated.

It was thanks to this victory, as Dr Bondin states, that “many Europeans heard of Malta for the first time”.

It therefore goes without saying that any celebrations for this event should give due prominence to Vittoriosa. Besides, there is no better place to locate the Great Siege Museum. There is a magnificent building which is suitable for this purpose; it is government property but could be vacated and refurbished for the purpose.

Dr Bondin knows about it because he was the first to identify its importance when he chaired the Cottonera Rehabilitation Committee.

I am referring to the Palace Armoury. This would be ideal for another reason: its proximity to the Post of Castile, scene of the fiercest battle of the siege, when Grand Master Jean de Valette himself leading the onslaught.

This bastion, with its original hornworks, will soon beundergoing restoration.