Urban vitality through architectural heritage

Abstract

Mdina is a town with many facets, the two foremost being that it is a human settlement and a heritage attraction; a duality that gives rise to a number of consequences that affect the town. These issues will be addressed in this dissertation, with the purpose of achieving a wide view of the interpretation of Mdina. Towards this aim, the subject of the perception of Mdina as a museum will be considered, taking into account the aspects of management of the town, the human dimension and interpretive measures. The understanding of the cultural significance of Mdina as well as the built heritage that forms the fabric of the town is an essential start to the study. With this in mind, the historical background will be presented by means of a set of timelines that will then form the basis of a heritage itinerary through the urban fabric of Mdina. A focus will be given to edutainment - the combined aspects of education and entertainment as the ultimate goal of the interpretive strategy. These aspects lead to the necessary discussion of the role of the residents of Mdina, highlighting the importance of interpretation, not only of the built fabric but also with the aim of emphasising that Mdina is a living town. In the final analysis, the theoretical and practical aspects of interpretation will be studied with the aim of analysing the best interpretive methods that can be employed in Mdina, in order to aid our awareness of the heritage of the town and its national identity.