There it stands, solitary, secluded and magnificent! Seen from afar, Mdina’s striking silhouette, with its sheltering walls surrounding the city and its Cathedral dome is a feast for any artistic eye. Standing in front of the city’s entrance a horse drawn carriage waits for its passengers.

Appreciated more for heritage value than its transportation qualities, the karozzin was a common and an essential means of transport before the advent of engines in Malta. Dating back to the 19th century, the horse drawn karozzin was a vital link between villages. Today, quietly waiting outside Mdina’s main gate, the owner of the karozzin proudly displays his own piece of history. A slice of history so important that it will probably be cherished for generations and handed down the family in the same manner it came in his possession.

The arrival of his first passengers marks the start of his work day. Once the couple is helped up the carriage, what seems to be a rehearsed agreement between master and horse, triggers the four-legged animal into motion. Following an abrupt gesture of the hand and a gentle whistle, the karozzin starts its excursion within the ancient city walls. Built intentionally to deter invaders from entering the city, you wonder how many times the ditch shielded the city in time of battle. As the karozzin moves forward, the old draw bridge, that was walled in and replaced by the present entrance, becomes more visible. Admiring the blend of characteristics from their seats on the karozzin, it is as though the passengers are taken to another dimension... more seren and somewhat enchanting in its richness.

The baroque architecture, the exquisite palaces once occupied by the ruling elite that lived in Mdina, street corners adorned with lanterns and statues, wooden doors and brass doorknobs, the spacious square in front of the Cathedral - all stand in anticipation to be admired by visitors. A past that has seen the Arabs ingeniously design winding and narrow streets as a safeguard against attackers. A time gone by that was witness to the decline of the city as a capital when the Knights of Malta shifted their focus onto harbour regions. Mdina suffered physical defeat when it was badly hit by an earthquake. But blossomed when Grandmaster de Vilhena gave life once again to the fortifications, the palaces and the Cathedral. It is as though time can stand still within the old walls. No wonder Mdina has a captivating effect on its visitors.