Traditional Maltese Music entertaining the public in the streets of Mdina

Medieval Mdina Flower and Pageantry festival

Last month, the ancient city of Mdina was brought alive with the Medieval Mdina Flower and Pageantry festival. The Silent City was the romantic backdrop for this festival, which incorporated re-enactments with the participation of local and foreign groups.

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Mdina was transformed into a spring garden, with most of the piazzas and main roads decorated with flower arrangements, even doorknobs served as stands for these and plants with flowers were placed in the majority of open balconies. The walls of the bridge of Vilhena Gate were dressed with flowers and bay leaf decorations graced the main gate and pedestals both outside the gate as well as in St Publius’ Square and surrounding houses. Some of the chapels were also decorated with flowers. Plant pots were placed along main areas and two garden shops displayed their products in St Paul’s Square and Bastions Square. All flowers on the stands were locally grown and the two garden shops responsible for the beautiful transformation were under the able direction of Dr Joe Borg.

Visitors were merrily transported back in time to the middle ages and the city of Mdina offered a unique setting for such a festival. A wide variety of unforgettable events took place, involving action, adventure and games. Participants were able to experience thrilling jousting tournaments, displays of breathtaking birds of prey, medieval football competitions and human chess challenges. Medieval knights, medieval games, colourful characters, demonstrations on the use of medieval weaponry and armour brought the streets to life, together with displays of costumes, a falconry demonstration, exhibitions and artists at work. As in any event, worth its salt, food did not fail to play an important part and traditional medieval food was available mainly in the ditch area and local wine was available on sale from various stalls around the city.

This exciting and fun day out for all the family was also a learning opportunity for everybody and one could discover the history of the old capital through medieval exhibitions, lectures on interesting facts relating to medieval Mdina and guided tours of sites. Children enjoyed characters of bygone times, while various attractions had extended opening hours and offered special discounts.

This colourful and widely attended festival was organised by the Mdina Local Council in collaboration with MTA and other entities.