Heritage Malta is offering reduced admission for the National Museum of Natural History & Domvs Romana during this weekend’s Medieval Mdina festival.
Calling all history buffs! To celebrate Medieval Mdina, between 5th and 6th May, Heritage Malta will extend the opening hours of the National Museum of Natural History and the Domvs Romana at a heavily reduced combined ticket of €2. There's truly never been a better time to explore these historical wonders.
What’s so cool about the Domvs Romana?
The Domvs Romana, situated just outside the walls of the silent city of Mdina, does not only preserve some of the most precious Roman remains but also allows visitors to get a glimpse of life in a Roman domestic household. Visitors will also get the chance to view the polychrome mosaics that originally adorned the house’s peristyle and the surrounding rooms. These mosaics are regarded as being among the finest mosaics in the central Mediterranean!
And then there’s the Museum of Natural History…
The National Museum of Natural History is situated in Mdina in a stunning 18th century palace built by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena. Still known as Vilhena Palace today, in the early 20th century, the palace was converted into a hospital until it was closed down in 1956. Following extensive restoration, the National Museum of Natural History was inaugurated here in June 1973.
The main responsibility of the museum is the acquisition, collection, conservation and study of natural history specimens, especially those originating from the Maltese Islands. The current display areas cover various topics such as Maltese geology and palaeontology (fossils), small island habitats, marina fauna, insects, shells and birds, and other topics like human evolution.
About the festival
The Medieval Mdina Festival is organised in the streets of Mdina by the local council. The two-day event features re-enactments by foreign and local groups, Medieval music, sbandieratori, illusionists, jesters, falconry and birds of prey, lectures, concerts, a Medieval market, Medieval kitchen and children’s area, all within Malta's breathtaking old capital city. You can read more about it here.
On both festival days, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May, the National Museum of Natural History and Domvs Romana will open between 9am and 6pm, last admission at 5.30pm. Both sites can be visited by a combined ticket of €2.
On Saturday 5th May, two guided tours of the remains behind the Domvs Romana will be held at 10:30am and 1:30pm. The number of participants is limited, so it is advised to book in advance! Tickets for these tours are available from all Heritage Malta museums and sites and online for the price of €10 for adults, €9 for seniors and students and €8 for children and Heritage Malta members.
More information about Heritage Malta activities can be found on the agency’s website.