Vittoriosa goes back in time

The popular Birgu Festival continued into its third and last day yesterday, bringing to an end a weekend of colourful activities, including music, pageantry, crafts, re-enactments, folk dancing, exhibitions and dghajsa tours.

Organised by the Malta Tourism Authority's product planning and development directorate, the festival was also an opportunity for Maltese and foreigners alike to visit the town's historical buildings, which were transported back in time through the events they formed the backdrop to.

Despite the October heat, the festival still attracted the crowds, both locals and foreigners, to Malta's most ancient maritime town. The tourists arrived in busloads and most visitors stuck, as much as possible, to the shadier areas of the main square and streets.

MTA heritage and events manager Martin Morana expressed his pleasure at the "excellent" attendance, which he said exceeded his expectations.

The weekend festival included 35 items, he said, adding that it had been strongly promoted in Malta and overseas.

Locals felt the event was an enjoyable outing for the family and children, while a Maltese-Australian said yesterday that she looked at the festival from a cultural point of view - a chance for her to get to know her roots and learn about her country's history.

Among the highlights of the programme, which brought added life to an already busy town, were Birgu by Night on Saturday, attended by President Guido de Marco, and a grand re-enactment of the celebrations of the victory of the Great Siege (1565) yesterday.

Fort St Angelo and the adjacent town of Birgu (Vittoriosa) had faced the brunt of the Ottoman onslaught but still emerged victorious and the colourful re-enactment re-evoked the celebrations held by the Knights of the Order of St John and the local population.

Victory Square, the town's heart, was the stage for vibrant activity, including folk dancing by the Manchester Morris Men from the UK and the Italian Caprivese Folklore Group, as well as a march and parade by the band of the armed forces of Malta.

The festival was further enhanced by omnibus tours and exhibitions and demonstrations of traditional crafts, floral arrangements and statuary in the auberges and churches.

Other activities included street walkabouts, a concert by the Men's Choral Society RMK 1921 (Holland) at St Lawrence church and another by the Versatile Brass Ensemble at Couvre Porte, which brought the festival to a close.