Extended hours, reduced prices for National Museum of Natural History and Domvs Romana for Medieval Mdina

To celebrate this weekend’s Medieval Mdina, 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.

The Domvs Romana, situated just outside the walls of the 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 among the finest mosaics in the central Mediterranean.

The National Museum of Natural History is situated in Mdina in an eighteenth century palace, built by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena. In fact this building is still known as Vilhena Palace. 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 Natu- ral History was inaugurated 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 in the museum 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.

The Medieval Mdina Festival will be organised in the streets of Mdina by the local council. During this two-day event there will be 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.

The National Museum of Natural History and Domvs Romana will open between 9am and 6pm, with last admissions at 5.30pm. Both sites can be visited with a combined ticket of €2.