A series of events marking the 450th anniversary of the Great Siege of Malta kicks off next month, allowing the public to explore the life and times of key figures and moments from the historic event.

The Great Siege started in May 1565, when the Ottoman Empire launched an invasion of Malta, then occupied by the Order of the Knights of St John. It ended on September 8 after continuous battles and bloodshed.

Heritage Malta and Arts Council Malta announced yesterday the programme opens on May 17 with ‘Dawn of the Great Siege: Life at sea’ at the Malta Maritime Museum, in Vittoriosa.

This will feature a number of specially-planned tours, activities within the museum and the locality, exhibitions and lectures.

An interactive, site-specific performance entitled ‘1565: first and last hope’ will take place in Fort St. Elmo from June 26 to 29 and an animated tour of the streets of Senglea, themed ‘Shadows from the Great Siege’, featuring characters that participated in the historic event, will be held on July 15.

The programme opens May 17 with ‘Dawn of the Great Siege: Life at sea’ at the Maritime Museum

This will be followed by a grand international exhibition at the Grand Master’s Palace, in Valletta, including the most important objects surviving from the siege in Malta and abroad.

Finally, from September 6 to 8, members of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta will travel to Malta to take part in various cultural and liturgical activities along with Maltese delegates.

These include a liturgical celebration at St Lawrence Church in Vittoriosa, followed by a procession to Victory Square where wreaths will be laid at the monument.

Pontifical Mass will be said in Mellieħa and Pontifical High Mass in Valletta.