The Magisterial Palace at Mdina, which is now the Museum of Natural
History, was originally intended as the residence of Grand Master de
Vilhena. Eventually, it became the Council House of the Mdina Commune. The
rear part of the building was then used as Law Courts while the
subterranean space beneath the palace served as a prison and dungeon, where
the Courts' sentences were enforced.
These underground cells and dark corridors have now been converted
into a permanent exhibition based on life size statues and supported by
display text panels depicting particular historic scenes from Malta's
turbulent past throughout many centuries.
The exhibits present vivid pictures of sufferance and cruelties
experienced in those days. The life-like figures are in period costume and
they are shown handling instruments, tools and utensils associated with
that subterranean environment.
The anecdotes on display are real ones, taken from authentic
documents which record atrocious deeds committed by despotic authorities,
and fearful episodes in times of plague and deadly epidemics.
The sound and light effects impart a feeling of awe, and an
impression of interaction with the figures on display.
