The 473rd anniversary of the 1551 Siege of Gozo will be commemorated during a ceremony to be held at the Citadel on Friday.

This will be an evening filled with history, music and dance in commemoration of the siege. Taking part will be the Gozo Creative Theatre Club, the Xaghra Historical Reenactment Organisation and Team Netta Dance Company.

During the ceremony, a short, one-act play will be performed – It-Taqbida tal-Libertà.

Wreaths will also placed in front of the monument that commemorates this event in Gozo’s history.

In 1551 the Ottoman force attacked Gozo following an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Malta, resulting in around 5,000 people, who formed the majority of the population of Gozo, being taken into slavery.

The siege ended in 1551 when the Gozitans had to capitulate and open the doors in the Citadel walls because they were no longer able to defend themselves and their families.

The people were taken captive, including the Knights and Governor de Sessa and were sailed to Tripoli. It was said that only a monk and 40 elderly Gozitans were spared by the Ottomans.

This was Gozo’s greatest tragedy, when many men, women and children, a lot of them unnamed, died either during the attack, or when they were taken into slavery.

This important commemorative evening, organised by the National and Regional Celebrations Committee within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, is on Friday, the 26th of July, starting at 8pm, guests are requested to be at the venue by 7.45pm. Entrance is free of charge.

Photos: Commemoration event 2023/MGP

Permalink: 473rd anniversary of 1551 Siege of Gozo commemoration