The Ditch
You can enjoy a walk around the dry moat or even enter the channel between the fortification walls.
The ditch or dry moat of Mdina was an essential part of the surrounding fortifications. It represents height, as on one side Mdina stands on a cliff, overlooking a large part of the Maltese landscape, while on the other side it stands on a flat hill top.
By digging a ditch, the sense of distance of height and distance was maintained.
The present ditch was dug out in the fifteenth century and improved upon by Knights of St John. The French military architect Charles François de Mondion was responsible for the redesigning and overviewing the works.
In recent time, the walls were cleaned from a serious overgrowth of weeds and plants and all the fortification walls, bastions and curtains walls restored. The restored walls now look acceptable again and can be enjoyed to the full and the ditch can now be used for events and feasts. It is planted with some trees and real grass is rolled out to give it more character.
On the Rabat side a number of cafes, public toilets and a children’s playground are in the vicinity.
