On the 8th of September, Victory Day, Heritage Malta will open the doors of the majestic Fort St Angelo to the general public at a reduced admission price of €2. This event will also include access to the upper parts of the fort which are administered by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. This public holiday is one of the most special days in our nation’s calendar as it encapsulates the very essence of Maltese pride.
The first momentous event commemorated on this day is the victorious end of the Great Siege on the 8th September 1565, when the Ottoman forces gave up their attempt to take over the Islands after three months of relentless fighting and heavy losses. Victory Day also marks the date when the armistice of the Fascist regime in Italy was made public in 1943, giving Malta a breather in the Second World War. By sheer coincidence, the birth of the Virgin Mary is also celebrated on this day.