Victory Day at Fort St. Angelo

September 8th marks Victory Day, honoring two pivotal moments in Malta's past: the conclusion of the Great Siege in 1565, when Ottoman forces abandoned their three-month assault on the archipelago following mounting casualties and failed offensives, and Italy's public declaration of surrender in 1943, which provided Malta relief during World War II. Remarkably, this same date is also the feast day of the Virgin Mary's birth. Fort St Angelo will host a full day of activities beginning with a service held in the Chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin, succeeded by a formal ceremony at the Great Siege Victory Monument. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the chapel's recently completed restoration work. A midday mass will take place at St Anne's Chapel situated in Upper Fort St Angelo. Throughout the afternoon, a historical reenactment ensemble will provide entertainment. The fortress opens to the public at reduced admission rates between 09:00 and 19:00, with the final entry at 18:30, offering an ideal location to experience the festivities.