Attractions
Dingli Cliffs
Address: V92P+V45 Dingli, Malta .A day for taking out those walking shoes, binoculars, and your camera! An amazing walk to be had on these breathtaking Dingli Cliffs while enjoying mother nature and exceptional sites. For an extra bonus on your walk, try to be there for sunset. Trust us, you really want to see the views!
Dingli cliffs are located on Malta’s western coast just off the picturesque village of Dingli. They offer panoramic coastal views and are 253 metres above sea level.
The cliffs are known by locals for being the place where the sky and sea meet as it’s the highest point on the Maltese Islands. It offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, the petite terraced fields, and the tiny uninhabited island named Filfla. Walking along the cliffs you will notice a gorgeous little chapel, dedicated to St.Mary Magdalene that is located on the cliff's edge. If you hike long enough you will come across another breathtaking spot, the Blue Grotto. Experiencing the sunset against the blue sea is magical.
https://www.visitmalta.com/en/attraction/dingli-cliffs-malta/
Mdina Gate
Address: VCM3+V9W, Mdina .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
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The city of Maleth was founded by the Phoenicians in around 700 BC, and it 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][3]
The Mdina Gate was depicted on a £M 2 commemorative silver coin minted by the Central Bank of Malta in 1973.[4] The rear of the gate, along with the Torre dello Standardo, was depicted on the Lm 5 banknote that was in circulation between 1989 and 2007.[5]
The gate was restored in 2008 by the Restoration Unit of the Works Department.[6]
Today, the Mdina Gate is one of the main tourist attractions of Mdina.[7] The gate was included on the Antiquities List of 1925.[8] It is now scheduled as a Grade 1 national monument, and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.[9]
Source: Wikipedia
