[WATCH] Valletta comes alive during the Pageant of the Seas

The Pageant of the Seas brought Valletta's history to life with re-enactments, activities and competitive races, and performances throughout the day, ending the night with a fireworks display over the Grand Harbour

(Photo: Valletta 2018: Francesca Vella)
(Photo: Valletta 2018: Francesca Vella)

The Pageant of the Seas, one of the highlights of the Valletta 2018 programme was held all day yesterday.

Activities started on Thursday afternoon, with a re-enactment, by members of In Guardia, of a parade harking back to the time of the knights. A regatta race was also held from the Old Customs House across the fairway and back. 

(Photo: Valletta 2018)
(Photo: Valletta 2018)
(Photo: Valletta 2018)
(Photo: Valletta 2018)
(Photo: Valletta 2018)
(Photo: Valletta 2018)

It was followed by a race of rafts built from recycled materials, without the use of traditional oars and motors. 25 teams participated. 

Swimmers also swam between Fort St Angelo and Valletta in L-Għawma Toni Bajada recalling the historical figure who relayed information between the knights during the Great Siege of Malta.

During the Valletta Pageant of the Seas night performance, a number of components were used to deliver a spectacular night performance that illuminated the Grand Harbour, with the night programme starting at 9 pm.

During the night, 28 yachts lit up with lights, carrying flags of the European member states, were displayed brightly as they entered the Grand Harbour from the Kalkara yacht marina, surrounding the stage that was anchored in the middle of the harbour aboard a large barge.

Following this nautical display, a choir gave a preview of the upcoming Valletta 2018 opera Aħna Refuġjati by singing a piece from the production, which will be taking place at the end of August and the beginning of September, later this year.

A water curtain also featured in the night performance with audio-visual projections projected onto the water, followed by a performance developed in collaboration with Barcelona-based artists La Fura Dels Baus. The performance saw a luminous tree being split open and the gigantic female figure of the Venus of Malta arising from the sea and lifted in the air with local acrobats trained by La Fura Dels Baus performing on the structure.

The night culminated with a fireworks display over the Grand Harbour.

In total, over a thousand artists took part during theday's activities.