The 11-day festival will be held in Valletta, Mdina, Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua and Victoria. This is the festival’s first year, but there are plans for it to be held annually every October.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit opened yesterday’s event. The wedding, in full period costume, was followed by an exhibition on the subject organised by the MTA.

Dr Zammit Dimech said: “The Historic Cities Festival, the Malta International Choir Festival and the Mediterranea festival give visitors added value in the autumn months. The festival will include concerts, opera, historical folklore re-enactments, traditional food banquets and the introduction of the Valletta Military Tattoo.

“This is a unique chance to visit Malta’s walled cities and admire the wealth of historical, cultural and artistic heritage that covers every centimetre of these localities,” he said.

Dr Zammit Dimech said Malta’s walled cities were the cradle of our civilisation and these secure places had allowed the people of those times to be safe. “These cities helped our culture to flourish and our people to maintain a European lifestyle and a good standard of living,”he said.

“Today Malta is in a process of restructuring its tourism product, from a destination to an experience. In our efforts to promote Malta as an experience, walled cities play an important role because of their uniqueness,” said Dr Zammit Dimech.

Tonight, a particular night on the agenda is being held – Vittoriosa during the French period. Street lighting will be turned off and fjakkoli and candle light will recreate the period atmosphere.

The event will take place between 8.30pm and 10pm. A group of French enactors will greet people at the gate of Vittoriosa and there will be many activities, including a garrison of soldiers, the re-enactment of a sword fight, mess life, the changing of the guard and much more.