Heritage Malta Presents Two New Publications On The Great Siege To The President Of Malta

Press Release│27th March 2026

Heritage Malta has presented two new publications to Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono, the President of Malta, during an official ceremony held at San Anton Palace. Both works centre on the Great Siege of 1565, a defining battle which shaped Malta’s identity.

The first publication, ‘The Great Siege of Malta, 1565: An Epic Poem’, was penned by the late Joseph L. Zerafa (1917–1985), a poet and teacher from Żurrieq with a deep love for Malta’s past. Edited by Col. (Retd.) David Vassallo and exquisitely illustrated and designed by celebrated photographer Daniel Cilia, this 288-page hardback volume presents an epic poetic retelling of the Great Siege, enriched with powerful imagery and detailed photography of Matteo Perez d’Aleccio’s frescoes at the Grand Master’s Palace.

Written between 1980 and 1981 but unpublished during Zerafa’s lifetime, the poem was transcribed by his family and rediscovered decades later.  Heritage Malta has now brought this powerful work to light, pairing it with striking visuals that capture the courage, turmoil, and triumph of 1565.

The second publication, ‘The Great Siege of 1565: the assault that defined Malta’, authored by Chilion Mangion, thoroughly illustrated by Kimberly Azzopardi, and edited by Godwin Vella, offers a bilingual account designed to engage younger readers. This book traces the Knights’ origins as guardians of pilgrims in Jerusalem, through their steadfast struggle during the Great Siege, to the establishment of Valletta as the Order’s new fortress city, culminating in the immortalisation of the Siege in D’Aleccio’s frescoes in the Throne Room of the Grand Master’s Palace.

This volume is the second in Heritage Malta’s series that presents complex historical events in a simpler and engaging yet accurate way, supporting the agency’s mission to make Malta’s heritage inspiring and accessible to all. The series began with ‘World War II: the conflict that reshaped Malta’.

For more information or to purchase these publications, visit www.heritagemalta.mt/store or any Heritage Malta museum or site.