The Mdina Festival

Grand Master Martin de Redin inspects works on the
Mdina Bastions

The fortification system around Mdina had been in existence since the Middle Ages. This had led the experts of the Order of St. John to conclude that these fortifications needed extensive repair and improvement. But when the Order arrived in Malta in 1530, the Knights had chosen Birgu [Città Vittoriosa] and Fort St. Angelo as their headquarters. Because of this, the city of Mdina had been all but rejected. The inadequacy of the city's fortifications had been very evident during the sieges of 1551 and 1565; it was by pure luck that Mdina had not been taken by the enemy.

Until the election of Grand Master de Redin in 1657, the Order had managed to fortify several areas around the Grand Harbour with efficient systems. This meant that the part of the isalnd that was most important to the Order was in the best possible state of defence.

Probably the worst times for Mdina had been during the magistracy of Grand Master Lascaris, when a number of military experts had drawn up various reports. Their recommendations included that it was futile to try to repair the fortifications of Mdina, and that the best thing to do would be to dismantle them completely. It was only because of the protests of the Maltese living in the area that this recommendation was not implemented.

In 1658, the bastions of St. Peter and St. Paul were semi-dilapidated. Besides, according to the experts' latest opinion, the long wall which joined the two bastions was in no condition to offer defence. It was Grand Master de Redin who sponsored the works that needed to be undertaken. He offered 4,000 skudi to enable the commencement of works. The Università of Mdina offered to help as well.

The project was entrusted to Engineer Mederico Blondel, the Order's resident architect at the time. According to his proposals, the works were to include the restoration of the crumbling bastions and the construction of a new one. This new bastion was to be built between the two existing ones. This would have fortified the long wall, which could afford no real defence. As a sign of respect towards the Grand Master, who had provided the funds for the project to move ahead, a decision was taken to name the new bastion after him.

In 1659, one year after the commencement of works, the Hakem [Ruler] of Mdina, Antonius Xara, ordered the putting up of an inscribed marble plaque on the facade of the Magisterial Palace, which is located at the entrance of Mdina. Although the de Redin Bastion had not been constructed as originally planned, it is still standing and offers a sense of security to all who enter Mdina.

To commemorate the commencement of works, the Grand Master de Redin had a coin struck, a copy of which is in the numismatic collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts. The inscription on this commemorative coin reads:

On the observe:

F. DON MARTINVS DE REDIN M. M. H. H. PNPS. MEL. ET GAVL. MVNITAM ARMIS ET ARCIBS HANC INSVLA AD. MDCLIX

Fra Don Martino de Redin, Grand Master of the Hospitallier Order of Jerusalem, Prince of Malta and Gozo, fortified this island with arms and fortifications, 1659 AD.

On the reverse:

VETVSTÆ HVIVS CIVITATIS PENE DIRVMA PROPVGNALCVLA NOVAT INCOLAR VMQ MVNIMINI LACIT PRIMA FVNDAMENTA

Due to the poor state of fortifications, he renewed them, and the inhabitants erected the stone to commemorate the fortifications.

This has been the theme of the Mdina Festival held in Malta during the month of October of 1998.  It has been such a successful occasion for the Maltese and tourists alike that it is being held annually, together with other similar festivals like the Birgufest and the Valletta Festival. 

If you click on the icon you will find yourself being transported back in time and this website contains some of the most beautiful photographs taken during the festival.