With its reputation, Strait Street in Valletta lured thousands of young and not-so-young servicemen who often threw caution to the wind.

Even though the street is now but a shadow of its former self, tales of wanton women and transvestites mingle and intertwine to prime the imagination of visitors to this lane whose name has been flagged around the four corners of the globe.

But what are the facts and what are the figments of the imagination when it comes to its history?

In collaboration with Heritage Malta, George Cini – who has just published his second book recording the oral history of this street – will be answering questions about what made this melting pot of music, dance, drink and other earthly pleasures come to possess such magnetic powers during a talk in English at the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa on Thursday at 7pm.

For more information, call the Inquisitor’s Palace on 2182 7006 or visit the inquisitorspalace and stradastrettabook Facebook pages.