After a two year absence from Valletta's capital, the In Guardia Parade will return back to its rightful place, Fort St. Elmo, which is a Heritage Malta site.
With the wait for the re-opening of Fort St. Elmo swiftly coming to an end and with Heritage Malta set to celebrate the 450th anniversary from the Great Siege of 1565, the In Guardia Parade will be the first to return to the Fort St Elmo, which was the first fort to be besieged by the Ottoman armies during the Great Siege of 1565. The fort succumbed to the incessant bombardment of the huge Turkish cannons and after a month the fort and its few survivors were overran by the Janissaries on June 23.
The In Guardia Parade is a re-enactment which is renowned for capturing the imagination of viewers, who are transported back to the days of glory of Fort St Elmo, through full-scale military drills re-enactments in period costumes.
The In Guardia parade evokes the time of the Knights of St John in Malta in the early 17th century, a time of battles, conquests and heroes. During these colourful re-enactments one will be able to see a number of officers and men-at-arms decked out in their uniforms as they perform inside the fort's Place-of-Arms. The Captain of the fort gathers his garrison and gives out the orders of the day. He informs his men to be well prepared for the visit of the Grand Bailiff responsible for military matters and as soon as the Grand Bailiff arrives he is given a salute. A military drill by the pike men, the palace guards, the musketeers and the school of arms follows, so that the Grand Bailiff is assured that the garrison and the fort are in a high state of readiness. This drill is followed by the firing of mortars and cannon by the bombardiers.
The In Guardia Parade, which is now in its 18th year, is organised by the Malta Tourism Authority. The parade, which takes around 45 minutes, will be held on the following dates: February 1 & 22; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; April 12, 19, 26; May: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; June: 7, 14, 21, 28; July: 5 & 12; September: 20 & 27; October: 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov: 1, 8, 15, 22; December 27.