Monuments to visit Central

The main gate of Mdina was rebuilt in 1724, a few metres from the old one. On the pediment, the arms are those of the great master António Manoel de Vilhena. It was at this door that the University welcomed each new Grand Master, asking him to reconfirm the preservation of Mdina's rights and freedoms before handing him the keys to the city. In front of Main Gate, you will find kiosks, a children's park, toilets (open during the day), the bus terminal and the Howard Gardens where you can rest in the shade of the orange trees.

Located in Rabat, at the foot of the fortified city of Mdina, the monastery of Saint-Dominique served as the setting for a must-see sequence of season 1. The scene of the confrontation between Cersei Lannister and Ned Stark was shot in the gardens of the priory (ep. 7). It is here that the Hand of the King reveals to the Queen that she is aware of her incestuous relationship with her brother and that her children are not heirs to the Throne. Ned Stark then advises Cersei to run away with her children to avoid the wrath of King Robert, but the queen simply replies, "When you play the Game of Thrones, you either win or die. A nice way to sum up the whole series...

This large mansion of the th century, typical of Rabat, is not a museum, but a particular hotel that is still the private residence office of the family owner of the site. This vast residence was built in the th century from an ancient medieval fortress. In the th century, some baroque elements were added. By visiting the places, you will find the sumptuous life train of the local nobility of the time. You walk through the rooms, the chapel, the lounges, all rich in furniture and art.

The Mdina Dungeon was originally a slave prison, with its cells and the remains of its torture chambers. Terrible stories and amazing stories. Morbide atmosphere, but amateurs will be happy. Those who have seen The horror movie The Hostel will be in good fear…

San Anton Gardens, open to the public since 1882, surround the official residence of the President of the Republic, a palace built for the French master Antoine de Paule. Among bougainvillea, roses, gigantic trees, citrus fruits and rare plants, plaques commemorate the visit of the world. This garden is particularly pleasant in summer with its dallées alleys, the gurgling of fountains and its many cats of all colors. The people in the neighborhood come to the shadows and talk. Parents take their children watching the few exotic animals a little lost in their pens. In July, you can attend outdoor theatre performances. In winter you will have the chance to see citrus trees covered with fruit: oranges, lemons, grapefruit. But it is in the spring that it appears in all its splendour when the colorful flowers compete with beauty. If you are in Malta in April or May, these gardens are a priority visit.

This episcopal palace, which dates from 1722, was built on the site of the previous one, dating from the 14th century. Lorenzo Gafà drew the plans for it, but its construction was suspended so that the cathedral could be completed before this building. It is an imposing building, considered emblematic of the elegance of the 17th century. It has always been the seat of the bishops of Malta. Before the arrival of the British, the bishops were always foreign prelates. They are now Maltese.

The Palazzo de Piro is an extension of the cathedral and is also a concentration of ancient tools used for centuries by Maltese craftsmen. You will have the opportunity to view an impressive collection of over 1,700 objects, each more unusual than the last. The museum is divided into 5 parts for better understanding; in fact the creators leave it to the imagination and discussion of the visitors by deliberately choosing not to give explanations.

Still along the road from the capital to Mdina, you'll no doubt notice the Wignacourt aqueduct. When Valletta was built in the ^16th century, it was realized that the drinking water supplied by the only usable spring (near the Grand Harbour) would soon be insufficient. So, in 1601, Grand Master Adolf de Wignacourt decided to bring water from the many springs in the hills around Mdina to Valletta. In 1610, the first project was an underground aqueduct as far as Attard, but the problems associated with the terrain soon proved insurmountable. Between Balzan and Hamrun, therefore, an overhead construction was preferred, consisting of a stone conduit mounted on arches, which can still be seen today. From Hamrun to the capital, water was once again transported underground. On August 21, 1615, Adolf de Wignacourt inaugurated the first fountain in Valletta. Another was also built in Floriana.

The original center of the village, around the church of St. George, served as a residence for the knights and has preserved some fine old houses, including the Palazzo Stagno. Built in 1589 for the Stagno family of Sicilian origin, it was mainly occupied by knights of the Order. Superb moldings around the windows, beautifully crafted facade, all in a rather orthodox, Maltese style, rather inspired by the Spanish colonial styles of Peru or Mexico, as the English architect Quentin Hughe would say about it.