The Malta Tourism Authority will be holding the first of a series of re-enactments tomorrow to animate the fortified part of the town of Victoria, better known as the Citadel.

Re-enactors will be demonstrating their military prowess, as well as manning all the watch outposts of the ramparts that defend the Citadel. During the time when the Order of St. John was in Malta this was a duty to be taken seriously and constantly.

Going back through history, one cannot miss a very important episode which occurred in 1551, when Dragut on having failed to capture any of the Maltese towns, decided to assault Gozo’s Citadel with a vengeance and carried off some 5,000 people into slavery – that was practically the entire population of Gozo at the time.

The re-enactment will be held once a month during summer – tomorrow, and on August 21 and September 15.

The programme starts at 11 and ends at noon. 25 re-enactors will be taking part: six Pikemen, four musketeers, two drummers, three officers, six Palace Guards and four standard bearers.