Works of art to see 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.

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.