Activities
www.vittoriosahistorica.org
The main thrust of the Society’s activity is the creation of
an awareness of the unique historical relevance of Vittoriosa. In this regard, the Society is involved
in
various initiatives and commitments, including the submission of
proposals and
recommendations to government on projects and improvements, and
collaboration with government
entities. The Society’s repertoire of
activities includes the holding of public presentations and
exhibitions, guided
tours of Vittoriosa and cultural visits to places of interest in Malta
and Gozo.
From its inception the Society saw the need to organize an
annual celebration at Vittoriosa to commemorate the Great Siege
Victory, which
was held as Malta’s
National Day. The Society wanted to
bring back the memory of this Victory to the people of Vittoriosa, a
Victory
which brought great renown to Malta
and to the Order of St John
throughout Europe.
For many years the Great Siege Commemoration had been celebrated
by the
government at Valletta. The Society felt that the rightful place for
such an event was Vittoriosa, in the shadow of the Victory
Monument built by the Order
in Vittoriosa Square.
The ceremony took the form of an oration
on the role of the city during the Great Siege and ended with the
laying of
laurel wreaths at the foot of the monument by the constituted bodies of
the
city. Distinguished personalities were
invited to do the speech. From 1994,
following the setting up of the Vittoriosa Local Council, 7 September
was
officially recognized as Vittoriosa Day, and the the Local Council
started to hold formal celebrations every year, which the Society
participates in.
The Society is proud that it took the responsibility in 1965
to organize a full programme of events, on the occasion of the 4th
centenary of the Great Siege Victory.
During the festivities the keynote message was that Vittoriosa
not only
brought Victory to Malta
but also sealed its future.