Sounds of old in the silent city

Over the weekend, the silent city of Mdina woke up to mediæval music, falcon cries and the sound of battle.

Visitors of the usually quiet city saw Mdina relive chivalrous fights and ceremonial parades dating back to the Middle Ages.

This fourth Mediæval Festival, organised by the local council, featured human chess activities, archery, a falconry display and the re-enactment of a mediæval kitchen: food and drink from the period complemented the activities held throughout the day.

It is thought Mdina was first fortified by the Phoenicians at around 700 BC. Years later it welcomed the Romans but it wasn’t until the Norman conquest in 1091 AD that thick defensive fortifications were built up around the city and its moat widened.

When the islands were passed on to the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the 16th century, Mdina hosted public ceremonies during which the Grand Masters pledged to protect the country.