Great Siege of Malta & the Knights of St. John

This walk-through, multi-media exhibition with plenty of sound effects and flashing lights focuses on the epic events of the Great Siege of Malta of 1565, in which the Turks were defeated by the Knights of St John. It also looks back on the history of the Knights, from their formation in the 12th century and their original role in tending to the pilgrims en route to the Holy Land to their reinvention as the quasi-military force who repelled the Turkish invaders. The story of Malta’s great victory is told in a series of period dioramas through the words of Francesco Balbi, a Spanish poet who was eyewitness to the breaking of the Great Siege.

The exhibition provides a great introduction to the events that marked so much of Malta’s tumultuous history and there are plenty of gory recreations of battle scenes from the 1565 siege, which kids will particularly appreciate.

Practical Info:

The Great Siege of Malta & the Knights of St John is on Republic Square 10 minutes’ walk from Valletta bus station in a pedestrianized area of the city. For drivers, there is designated parking outside the City Gate.

Audio-guides lasting 30 minutes are available in 10 languages and the exhibition is open between Monday and Saturday. Family tickets are available. The Siege exhibition forms part of the Premier entertainment complex, where a variety of cafés and restaurants are available.