Mdina Gate

Mdina Gate
Il-Bieb tal-Imdina

View of the Mdina Gate
Alternative names Main Gate
Vilhena Gate
General information
Status Intact
Type City gate
Architectural style Baroque
Location Mdina, Malta
Coordinates 35°53′5″N 14°24′12.4″E / 35.88472°N 14.403444°E / 35.88472; 14.403444
Completed 1724
Owner Government of Malta
Technical details
Material Limestone
Design and construction
Architect Charles François de Mondion

Mdina Gate (Maltese: Il-Bieb tal-Imdina), also known as the Main Gate or the Vilhena Gate, is the main gate into the fortified city of Mdina, Malta. It was built in the Baroque style in 1724 to designs of Charles François de Mondion, during the magistracy of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena.

History

In around 700 BC, the Phoenicians founded the city of Maleth, which later became part of the Roman Empire under the name Melite. The Punic-Roman city occupied all of present-day Mdina, and its walls also extended into part of Rabat. The city was reduced to its present size sometime during the early medieval period, either by the Byzantines or the Arabs. By the 15th century, the city (now known as Mdina) was defended by a system of double walls on the land front, with the main entrance being located close to the southeast corner of the city, near a tower known as the Turri Mastra.[1]

Mdina Gate and the walled up medieval entrance

In the medieval period, the main entrance to Mdina consisted of three gates which were separated by courtyards. The outer gate was called the Prima Porta Principale or the Porta di Santa Maria, and it was decorated with the coat of arms of Sua Cesarea Majestati in 1527. A barbican was built to protect the gate sometime after 1448, but it was demolished in 1551 since it was no longer regarded as being suitable for defence. It is believed that this gate was reconstructed by the Order of St. John in the early 17th century.[1]

In 1722, Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena issued orders for the restoration and renovation of Mdina.[2] The city entrance was completely rebuilt, and a new Baroque gate was built to designs of the French architect Charles François de Mondion in 1724. Since the courtyards behind the old gate were demolished to make way for the Palazzo Vilhena, the original gate was walled up and the new one was built a couple of metres to its left. The city's medieval fortifications were also rebuilt at this point, and the Turri Mastra was demolished and replaced by the Torre dello Standardo.[1]

The Mdina Gate was depicted on a Lm2 commemorative silver coin minted by the Central Bank of Malta in 1973.[3] The rear of the gate, along with the Torre dello Standardo, was depicted on the Lm5 banknote that was in circulation between 1989 and 2007.[4]

The gate was restored in 2008 by the Restoration Unit of the Works Department.[5]

Today, the Mdina Gate is one of the main tourist attractions of Mdina.[6] It is scheduled as a Grade 1 national monument, and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[7]

Architecture

The Mdina Gate consists of a Baroque portal and a superstructure serving as a gatehouse. The portal is decorated with double pilasters, the coats of arms of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena and the city of Mdina, a trophy of arms and a Latin inscription.[7] The back of the gate is decorated with reliefs of St. Publius, St. Agatha and St. Paul, who are the patron saints of Malta.[8]

An arched stone bridge, which is decorated by statues of lions holding the coat of arms of Vilhena or the town of Rabat, leads to the gate. A wooden à la Vauban drawbridge originally linked the bridge to the gate.[7]

In popular culture

The Mdina Gate represented King's Landing Gate in the filming of Lord Snow, the third episode of the first season of Game of Thrones.[9]

Gallery

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mdina Main Gate.
  1. 1 2 3 Spiteri, Stephen C. (2004–2007). "The 'Castellu di la Chitati' the medieval castle of the walled town of Mdina" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (1–4): 3–11. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  2. ↑ De Lucca, Denis (1979). "Mdina: Baroque town planning in 18th century Mdina". Heritage: An encyclopedia of Maltese culture and civilization (Midsea Books Ltd) 1: 21–25.
  3. ↑ "2nd series – Mdina Gate". Central Bank of Malta. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Maltese Lira". Central Bank of Malta. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mdina Gate project nears completion". Times of Malta. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Alexander, Lisa. "11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Mdina". planetware. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Main Gate – Mdina" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Mdina and Rabat (City Guide)". idotravelto.com. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Game of Thrones. And what Malta has to do with that.". Just Travelous. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015.
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