The Mdina Dungeons

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.

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The Mdina Dungeons

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