Mdina
Mdina (pronounced ‘em-dee-na’) is a fortified medieval town perched up on a hill in the centre of Malta. In the middle ages, Mdina was the country’s capital city and today is known as the ‘Silent City’ as there is no busy traffic with only a limited number of its 250 residents being allowed to bring their cars inside the walled city.
During our month in Malta, we took a trip to see this ancient city. It is about a 25 minute drive from Malta’s capital, Valletta, so it makes a great place to visit even if you’re short on time.
Take a wander through Mdina’s winding streets and explore the baroque architecture, interesting doorways and stunning ornate churches. Stop for lunch at the Fontanella Tea Garden for views over the beautiful Maltese countryside and finish of your visit in Rabat.
1. Explore the Streets of Mdina
The best way to explore Mdina is to take a wander through its narrow, winding streets. You can access the walled city through a few entrances: Greeks Gate, Gharreqin Gate, and the popular main entrance – Vilhena Gate. This last gate was featured in the TV series Game of Thrones.
You can’t drive inside Mdina but there is parking in Rabat, located directly outside the entrances to the city. While the car parks are free, they are unofficially manned so you will likely be asked for a donation.
Once inside the walls of this ancient city, the shady lanes can get a little chilly, so bring an extra layer.
2. Pjazza San Pawl
After wandering through the streets of Mdina, you’ll eventually end up at Pjazza San Pawl, located in the heart of the city. This main square is surrounded by some beautiful buildings with their traditional balconies, brightly painted shutters and grand doors.
Check out Casa Gourgion (undergoing maintenance during our visit) which stands out with its unusual neo-gothic architecture amongst the typically baroque style of Mdina.
While admiring the many interesting doors in Mdina, make sure to pay attention to the door knockers which range from the weird to the wonderful. Some of the shops in the city also sell these unique door knockers, along with other souvenirs and local arts and crafts.
3. Mdina Cathedral and Museum
St Paul’s Cathedral is also in the main square. Inside the 12th century Roman Catholic cathedral, you’ll find grand altars adorned in marble and gold, stained glass windows, a painted dome and other artworks.
The museum is located a few meters away to the right of the cathedral and houses various artworks and a series of historic collections and exhibits.
Tickets are purchased at the museum entrance and give access to both the cathedral and museum for €10 (€8 for students and seniors). It’s also possible to do a virtual tour of the cathedral on their website.
4. Carmelite Church and Priory
An alternative free option is the Carmelite Church and Priory. The church is an absolute hidden gem and should definitely not be missed.
The priory is the first in Malta to open its doors to the public and it shares the Carmelite heritage and lifestyle of the friars that still reside there.
Since it was built in the 17th century, the inside of the church has undergone extensive restoration and is a stunning display of baroque architecture. The level of ornate detail of the interior is truly impressive, with its marble and gold decoration, grand dome altar and beautiful ceiling paintings. Words and pictures can’t do it justice!
5. Blue Mdina Door with Purple Flowers
The instagram-famous blue Mdina door is one of the most photographed spots in the city. The old stone house, with its beautiful rustic blue door and shutters, has been made popular due to the contrasting vines of vivid purple flowers growing up the front. It was still very pretty when we were there at the start of February, but you’d need to visit in the warmer months to see it in full bloom.
It’s located at the back of Mdina, just along from Coogi’s Restaurant & Tea Garden, and now even has its location marked on google maps:
6. Fontanella Tea Garden
The Fontanella Tea Garden is a popular cafe perched on top of Mdina’s fortified walls with panoramic views overlooking the Maltese countryside. With a mix of glass walled indoor seating and outdoor terraces, it’s the perfect spot for a rest.
The cafe has a wide selection of homemade cakes, pies and cheesecakes which are displayed in a cabinet on the lower level. The selection is a little overwhelming as they all looked delicious. We were almost tempted to try one of their specials, the Cassatella, a bright green covered sponge with a sweet ricotta filling.
In the end, we opted for the classic chocolate cake which we’d heard good things about. However, I have to admit the chocolate cake was a bit on the salty side. Coincidentally (or not?), this was our same experience at another place we had chocolate cake in Malta. So I would definitely try another of their more interesting options next time!
7. Rabat (outside Mdina)
Rabat, meaning ‘suburb’ in Semitic, is a village located just outside Mdina’s ancient city walls. The most notable attractions in Rabat are the St Paul’s and St Agatha’s Catacombs. These Roman burial grounds are a complex network of tunnels and chambers covering 2000 square meters underground. Due to hygiene, Roman law prohibited burying the dead within the city and these catacombs are believed to have been used from the 3rd century BC up until the 7th century AD.
8. Map of Mdina
9. More To Do
Only a 25 minute drive away, Mdina and Valletta are easy to get between.
Continue on to explore Malta’s coastline and beautiful beaches, and see the Blue Grotto – a natural sea cave with a huge arch. Or visit Marsaxlokk, a charming traditional fishing village known for its markets, seafood and brightly painted colourful boats.
Take a boat trip to explore the natural beauty of Malta’s other islands, Gozo and Comino.
Explore more of Malta:
Discover Valletta, Malta’s picturesque capital city, with its unique architecture, rich history and panoramic views of the Mediterranean …
Be transported to the stunning Caribbean-like waters of Malta's Blue Lagoon on Comino Island to see some of the clearest turquoise …
Experience Gozo, the smaller and more rural sister island to Malta. This tranquil island is full of history and breathtaking nature …
Marsaxlokk is a charming traditional Maltese fishing village known for its harbour markets, seafood restaurants and colourful painted boats …