The Maltese city of Mdina is located on high hill in the center of the island. The history of Mdina and its suburb, Rabat, goes back centuries and is as ancient as the history of Malta itself. More than 4,000 years ago, an ancient settlement already existed on the site of Mdina.

The first wall around Mdina was built by the Phoenicians, followed by the Romans. Local residents found good use for the stones left over from ancient Roman buildings: to this day, in many villages, the walls of some houses are made from what remains of ancient Roman columns and portals. Under the Romans the city flourished. Cicero and Livy described it as a city with beautiful buildings and a prosperous lifestyle. From time immemorial to the present day, the nobility has resided in Mdina.

The city received its modern name - Mdina - from the Saracens, who captured the island in 870 AD. In order to more reliably protect Mdina, they separated the city from its suburbs with a deep ditch, and surrounded the upper part of Mdina with more powerful and high walls and bastions. It was this part of the city that received the name Mdina, which translated means “city surrounded by walls.” The other part of the city, remaining behind the wall, was called Rabat (suburb).
It was not in vain that representatives of the local Maltese nobility built their palaces and mansions in Mdina. This was facilitated by fortifications that were impregnable at that time. Mdina acquired even greater importance after it received the right of internal autonomy from the imperial governor in Sicily. Many of Mdina's houses feature balconies made of carved stone or wrought iron, and intricate brass rings on the doors.
The city has changed little since those times. Its structure and layout has remained unchanged for 1000 years, and is characterized by a harmonious combination of medieval and baroque architecture. It was as if time had stopped in him.

The streets are specially built narrow and angular to prevent arrows from flying.

The noblest families of Malta still live here; some are descendants of the Norman, Sicilian, and Spanish rulers who began settling in Mdina from the 12th century.

After the founding of Valletta (you can read how this happened), Mdina lost its strategic and political significance. The city was emptying, the population was flowing to Valletta. The earthquake of 1693 brought serious damage and destruction to the island and, especially Mdina.
The British became the last foreign rulers in Malta. They dissolved the Mdina assembly and established their capital in Valletta. Mdina gradually became deserted and, as a result, turned into a quiet, abandoned by many, “Silent City”, as it remains to this day.

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Despite the fact that only about 400 people officially live in Mdina, the city does not look abandoned at all. On the contrary, its “silence” sharply distinguishes it from other cities, adding a special grandeur, reinforced by the magnificent architecture and high status of its inhabitants.
Cathedral of St. Paul and Peter:

Are there many tourists in Mdina?
Main gate at the entrance to the city:

The answer to this question is ambiguous. On the one hand, there are almost no residents here, which means there are only tourists in the city. However, they have at their disposal the whole city, in addition, its streets are so narrow and winding that when you walk along it, everything around is so quiet and deserted that you get the impression that you are alone in Mdina. The city is truly silent. Majestic and private.

Wandering through the streets of the city, we stopped in front of a knight standing on the road:

The sign said that this was a museum. The museum displayed scenes from the history of the Maltese knighthood. At the same time, it was necessary to wander from exhibit to exhibit through a narrow labyrinth in twilight, almost in the dark, now climbing a stone staircase, now turning somewhere around a corner. When approaching the next scene, the exposition was automatically highlighted, and the audio guide in headphones began to talk about what was happening.



To tell the truth, at first I doubted wandering around in the dark with a child - what if the baby got scared? The funny thing is that it seems to be the other way around - the museum became a bright positive impression for him. Yashka is still too young to understand the drama of the sad moments of Maltese history, but the unusual mysterious atmosphere of the museum, bright costumes and faces of wax figures led him to complete delight. Yashka was especially delighted by the sudden appearance of water in the scene of the flooding of the dungeon prisoners, which he immediately expressed with admiring exclamations: “Water! Water!”
The shabby figure of a medieval cat in one of the exhibitions caused him the same delight. :)

Since Mdina is located on a hill, the central square offers beautiful views of the island:





In Mdina, which has retained its medieval appearance to this day, the Maltese nobility has lived for many centuries. Walking through the city, filled with mysterious silence, visitors are immersed in an atmosphere of peaceful contemplation. There are no shops, no open market, only two small restaurants hidden from the eyes of city visitors, and a cafe on the fortress wall - from here there is a wonderful view of the plains below and the sparkling sea in the distance.

Opposite the city gate is the Chapel of St. Agatha. The chapel was built in 1417 and reconstructed in 1694 by the architect Lorenzo Gafa. Traditions say that it was in Malta that Saint Agatha found her refuge, fleeing the persecution of the Roman emperor Decius (294 AD). Saint Agatha, Saint Paul and Saint Publius are the patron saints of Mdina.

The main square of the city is named after St. Paul. The famous Cathedral is located on the square. Ancient Christian chronicles say that the Cathedral was built precisely on the spot where St. Paul converted the Roman governor Publius to Christianity. According to legend, in the 4th century there was a small church on this site. By order of Count Roger of Normandy, the church was rebuilt and restored. To this day, those entering the Cathedral open doors that are 900 years old. The cathedral was repeatedly restored and completed. In 1693, after an earthquake, it was completely rebuilt by the architect Lorenzo Gafa and has since been considered best work this master and a true masterpiece of architecture.

One of most interesting places city ​​- Mdina dungeon. Here you can get acquainted with the history of the ancient Romans, Arabs and knights. The palace, built by Grand Master de Vilhena, houses the Natural History Museum. It contains both local and imported animal and fish skeletons, insects, birds, shellfish, fossils and geological exhibits.

Among all the settlements in Malta, it is difficult to find a town as mysterious and unusual as Mdina. This place is known as the "quiet city", which is one of the most popular destinations from tourists. All the necessary information about Mdina is posted in our article today.

City `s history

Mdina (Malta) is considered an ancient city, dating back four thousand years. Back in the Bronze Age, the ancestors of the Maltese founded a settlement on the top of a hill, fortified on all sides.

In the 8th century BC. The Phoenicians who ruled Malta founded the city of Malet on the site of present-day Mdina. The fortified Phoenician settlement was captured by the Romans in 218. Since then, Malet began to be called Mameta.

On a note! The newly created Roman city in Malta, according to Titus Livy and Cicero, had a lot of beautiful buildings and was considered a comfortable settlement.

According to local legends, the Apostle Paul himself came to Mdina, whose ship, as you remember, was wrecked off the coast of the island of Malta. It is this saint who is recognized as the person who brought a new religion to Malta - Christianity.

Mdina's troubles began at the end of the 9th century. It was then that the city was destroyed by the troops of the Aghlabid dynasty. Later, the Arabs who took power on the islands worked to restore the fallen Melita, calling the city Medina. Some time later, the new owners changed the structure of the renewed settlement, separating the suburb of Rabat from it.

This is interesting! Rabat began to grow and develop, but Medina, on the contrary, began to empty and go bankrupt. This situation was observed until the middle of the Middle Ages.

From the 14th-15th centuries, Mdina became the residence of the Maltese aristocracy. In the 15th century, the “University” assembly ruled here.

The next stage in the history of the famous Maltese city dates back to 1530. In the 16th century, the Knights of St. John arrived in Malta. The aristocrats from the "University" put forward a condition: they would recognize the new masters of the state only if the knights kept the autonomy of the city intact. Having made such a promise, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta received from the city aristocracy the key to sacred Mdina.

Then Mdina repeatedly changed its status and name. As a rule, these changes coincided with a change in the ruling power on the islands. However, without any doubt, Mdina, both then and now, was considered a real “aristocratic city”.

Description of the city

Mdina (Malta) is one of the most controversial cities in the island state. This settlement is located on the island of Malta in its central part. Very close to Mdina (13 km) is the equally famous city of Valletta.

On a note! Mdina was the capital of Malta until 1530.

Many tourists consider Mdina a museum city. Indeed, it is quite difficult to count all the attractions of the named settlement. It’s hard to believe, but in this quiet and seemingly extinct city there are... local residents. Yes, yes, people live in this “museum”: not many - about 300 people. U local residents has its privileges. For example, only they are allowed to travel around the city in private cars.

On a note! Near the sacred Mdina lies the city of Rabat, considered a suburb of the former Maltese capital. The problem is that the suburb is several times larger than Mdina itself. However, this fact does not bother the Maltese in any way - Mdina was and remains the main holy city of the Maltese state.

There are no cinemas, noisy nightclubs or other popular entertainment venues in Mdina.

The silent city on a hill is surrounded by impenetrable walls. You can enter the territory of Mdina only through three entrances, which are the city gates. Once here, you can imagine yourself as a resident or guest of medieval Malta. Ancient buildings, narrow streets, lack of traffic congestion, and regular behavior of the people around you will complete the picture of unusual impressions.

On a note! Mdina is the only place in Malta where you can take a mini train journey. This service is provided to everyone by the local company Melita trains. By paying about 5 euros per adult and 3 euros per child, you can comfortably see all the main attractions of Mdina and spend about 30 minutes of your time on everything. You can take this trip every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cars with passengers leave the platform every hour.

Entertainment in Mdina is very limited. All you can afford is sightseeing, going to a restaurant and souvenir shops, as well as a bike ride, which will be limited to 30-40 minutes of a quiet ride around the quiet Maltese city.

On a note! In 1693, a strong earthquake was recorded in Malta, which significantly damaged Mdina. It was the honor of the Knights of the Order of Malta to restore the city.

How to get to Mdina?

You can get to Mdina by buses from Valletta and Sliema.

From the capital to the quiet city there are routes No. 80, 84 and 81.

From the popular Maltese resort - bus number 65.

The journey will take passengers approximately 20 minutes. An alternative to the bus is a taxi, renting a car or renting a bicycle.

Note! A bicycle ride to Mdina may seem difficult for physically unprepared tourists, because... The “silent city” is located on a high hill.

Mdina Hotels

Despite its status as a museum city, Mdina has several hotels that kindly welcome guests from different parts of the world. We will talk about them below.

  1. Mellite. Guest house located 100 meters from the famous St. Pavel. The establishment serves breakfast included in the room price, free parking, a shared terrace, dry cleaning, laundry, and luggage storage. In Mellite rooms you will see beautiful antique furniture made of wood, air conditioning, and TV. The described hotel boasts laudatory reviews from tourists who have visited it.
  2. Luxury Guard Tower. Apartment hotel located in a picturesque tower just 100 meters from the city's Natural History Museum. The establishment has free parking, rooms with a kitchen, bathroom, living area and wooden furniture. Travelers staying at Luxure Guard Tower praise the cleanliness of the hotel and its close location to the city's main attractions.
  3. Xara Palace Relais. A five-star hotel located in a beautiful city building dating back to the 17th century. Here, hotel guests can use the services of parking (free), library, fitness center, sauna, restaurant and bar, laundry (for a fee), sun terrace, concierge services, newspaper delivery, car and bicycle rental (for a fee), etc. Xara rooms Palace Relais are distinguished by their exclusive design. In the rooms, guests will see luxurious antique furniture, DVD and CD players, air conditioning, and will have use of their own bathroom. If you want to spend your time in comfort, then book rooms at Mdina's only five-star hotel.

Sights of Mdina

The tiny size of the iconic Maltese city did not become an obstacle to the abundance of city attractions. We reviewed the top 20 most interesting objects in Mdina below.

Municipal Palace

One of the most famous attractions of Mdina was built in 1726-1728. Another name for this palazzo is Banca Giuratale. Its construction was a necessary measure, because in the 20s of the 18th century, the main residence of the city council members was confiscated by Master Antoine Manuel de Vilena. The architect of the municipal palace was the Frenchman Charles Francois de Mondion. It was he who built most of the houses in the Maltese city. After construction, the palazzo became not only the meeting place of the city council, but the city court also functioned here. The named attraction was built in the Baroque style. His main entrance decorated with two columns on which the second floor balcony is located. The cornice of the municipal palace is decorated with the heraldic symbols of the city and the magistrate of Villena.

On a note! The image of the Bank of Giuratale was on the two lira banknote that was in circulation in Malta from 1989 to 2007.

Shara Palace

One of the most popular establishments in Mdina is the Shara Palace. And all thanks to the fact that it houses the most fashionable hotel in the city, Xara Palace Relais. The palazzo building was built next to the city wall at the end of the 17th century. The Chara Palace was the residence of the Maltese nobleman Moscati Parisno. Quite a few elements of the ancient building have survived to this day: a door made of wood in the 18th century, olive trees that have been growing in the palace for two hundred years, etc. During the Second World War, the described landmark was turned into a dining room. The hotel in the building was opened in 1949. Almost 50 years later, in 1996, Zammit Tabon decided to return the palace to its original appearance. The plan to restore the site was implemented over three years. Today the Xara Palace (i.e. the Xara Palace Relais) has 17 rooms of varying levels of comfort.

Palace Cassa Testaferrata

One of the most luxurious palaces in Mdina was built on the site of the Temple of Apollo. Cassa Testaferrata is the largest palace in Mdina, so a visit is a must. Tourists who have visited the attraction admire the luxury and richness of its interior.

On a note! According to local legend, the French governor was thrown from the balcony of Cassa Testaferrata. As you guessed, these actions took place during the rebellion of the Maltese against the power of Napoleon.

Archbishop's Palace

The next historical site in Mdina is called the Archbishop's Palace. This building is located next to the city's cathedral. The current palace was built on the site of a previous palazzo built in the 14th century. The renovated Archbishop's Palace appeared in the 18th century.

This is interesting! The described landmark of the city became the residence of the Bishop of Malta in 1722. Moreover, the archbishop appeared in the state only in 1944.

Palace of Santa Sofia

The unique building of the medieval Santa Sofia Palace is located on the central street of the city called Vilguenon Street. The historical site of Mdina was built in the Romanesque style. His appearance can hardly be called ordinary. Arriving in Mdina, do not deny yourself the pleasure of meeting a striking representative of the city's palace architecture.

This is interesting! The first floor of the attraction was built back in 1233, as indicated by the inscription on one of the windows of the palace. The top floor appeared more than seven centuries later, in 1938.

Palace of Constanzo

The next Maltese palazzo was built in Mdina in the 17th century. Finding the palace is not difficult - it is located on the central city street. In addition to the aesthetic pleasure from the appearance of the attraction, tourists are invited to get acquainted with its educational content. The fact is that inside the Palazzo Constanzo there is an educational audio-visual exhibition “The Past of Malta”, which will tell its viewers about the famous past of the most aristocratic city of Malta.

Falzon Palace

This building has several names: Casa dei Castelletti, Norman House, Falzon Palace and Palazzo Cumbo Navarra. The exact date of construction of the attraction is lost. According to scientists, the object was built in the period from 1495 to the middle of the 16th century. The palace is a two-story building equipped with a courtyard. The windows of the palazzo have an arched shape, the floors are divided by a cornice consisting of two levels. There are no prominent decorations on the facades of Falzon. Today, anyone can visit the described palace. Settled inside the attraction historical Museum, where you can see collections of weapons, paintings, dishes, antique furniture, etc.

Catacombs of St. Pavel

Cathedral of St. Pavel

The most important building in Mdina is the city cathedral, named and illuminated in honor of the Apostle Paul. The place where the cathedral stands is shrouded in a network of legends and secrets. According to historical reports, the temple of the apostle is the fourth building on this site. The first to be built was the villa of Publius, a Roman who became the first bishop of Malta. By the way, it was with him that the apostle stayed after the shipwreck. In the 4th century, a modest church was erected on the site of the villa, followed by a large temple, which appeared thanks to the decree of Roger of Normandy. It was a strong building that could stand for several centuries, but the earthquake of 1693 did not spare it. In the place where the medieval temple stood, only one altar remained, around which the construction of the current Mdina Cathedral began. Today we can see in the silent city a majestic structure, the architecture of which is dominated by the Baroque style. The building has two towers on which dials are located. One of them shows the time, the other shows the day and month of the current year. The dome of the object was repeatedly decorated with various decorations. Today it houses frescoes restored in the 50s of the last century. Inside the building there are unique and very valuable relics. For example, an ancient painting painted by Mattia Preti and transferred to the rebuilt cathedral from the old temple. Visitors to the attraction will also see a 15th-century painting depicting the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms.

This is interesting! When the builders were dismantling the foundation of the destroyed temple, they found a treasure trove of coins. For this money the current Mdina Cathedral was built.

Corte Capitanale

The next architectural and historical landmark of Mdina in the past served the city as the district court building. Today this site is known as the Corte Capitanale building, or city ​​hall. Its appearance in the former capital of Malta dates back to 1728. The outstanding French architect Charles Francois de Mondion worked on the creation of the construction project. The attraction was built in the luxurious French Baroque style. The Villena Palace (written about above) was also built together with Corte Capitanale. Both buildings are adjacent to each other. The façade of the building is decorated with remarkable pilasters. On the balcony located above the main entrance to the building there are allegorical figures of Mercy and Justice. In addition, Corte Capitanale has dungeons built in the 16th century. In the past they were used as dungeons. The district court operated in the building until 1818. Today the building has been given the status of a city hall. It is closed to the public, but sometimes, during various exhibitions, visitors are allowed into the main hall.

Carmelite Church and Monastery

Mdina amazes its guests with an abundance of religious institutions: cathedrals, churches, monasteries and chapels. One of the most charming buildings of this type is the Carmelite church and monastery. You will find more detailed information about these objects in the article.

Chapel of St. Agates

This building has great historical value, because... was built in 1410. It is located next to the city gates, and was erected at the expense of the Maltese nobleman Francesco Gatta and his wife Donna Paola Castelli. In 1693, the chapel was badly damaged by an earthquake, but was nevertheless successfully reconstructed by the architect Lorenzo Gafa the following year. The renovated building of the attraction opened in 1696. Saint Agatha in Malta is considered the patroness of the archipelago. According to historical data, she visited the islands in 249.

This is interesting! According to legend, Saint Agatha helped the Maltese survive the Ottoman siege in 1551. Here's how it happened. A nun from the Abbey of Santa Scholastica told the vicar that she had a vision of St. Agatha. She ordered all the residents of Mdina to walk with her image along the walls of the bastions so that the enemies would see this action. The Turks, who noticed a large number of local residents and defenders of the city, got scared and lifted their siege from the Mdina fortress.

Torre dello Standardo

In the past, this object was part of the fortification of the great Mdina. The famous tower was erected in 1725 according to the design of the French architect Charles Francois de Mondion. At the same time, the main city gate was redesigned in Baroque style. Until the 18th century, another tower stood on the site of Torre dello Standardo - Torre Mastra. It was damaged by the earthquake of 1693. Like other towers, Torre dello Standardo served to transmit signals between the cities of the island. In the 19th century, the landmark began to serve as a home for the porters and sanatorium employees who worked in the Vigliona Palace. In 1888, Torre dello Standardo became a telegraph office, then a police station. Today the tower houses a tourist center, where city guests can pick up maps and advertising brochures with a schedule of city events and other useful information.

City Gate

Mdina can be reached through three entrances: City Gate, New City Gate and Greek Gate. The main gate of the city is the City Gate, which is often called the Villena Gate. They appeared in Mdina in 1724. The development of their project was carried out by the architect from France, already known to us, Charles Francois de Mondion. The construction of the landmark was paid for by Antoine Manuel de Villena, Grand Master of the Order of Malta. On the external facade of the object, attentive tourists will notice its heraldic sign. The construction of this facility was associated with the appearance of the Villena residence. The new building “moved” the entrance gates and also changed appearance some fortifications. In 2008, the City Gate was reconstructed. Today this site is a popular attraction in Mdina.

On a note! The main gate of the city was filmed in the famous TV series “Game of Thrones” (episode 3 of the first season). You will see them on the screen as part of Lord Snow's castle.

Greek gate

In the southwestern part of Mdina there is another gate, called the Greek gate. They were built back in the Middle Ages, but in 1724 the same Frenchman Charles Francois de Mondion reconstructed the gates, decorating them in the Baroque style. The architect changed the external façade of the landmark, keeping the internal appearance virtually unchanged.

On a note! From the very beginning, only slaves used the Greek gates. Gentlemen and other noble nobles of Mdina always passed through the City Gate.

In 2003, the Greek Gate underwent restoration. This event was repeated in 2015. Nowadays, cars enter the city through the gate described above. local population. We remind you: cars are not allowed to enter Mdina. Tourist wishing to visit ancient capital Malta, you must leave your car in Rabat and then move on foot.

Bastion Square

If you want to enjoy the scenic views of Malta, then head to Bastion Square, which offers stunning views of northern part islands, St. Paul and the geological fault that runs through the entire island. Due to its location, Bastion Square is a popular spot for photography. In the past, on the territory of the attraction there was an ancient temple dedicated to Prosperina, the underground goddess, daughter of Demeter and Zeus.

Torture Museum

Perhaps the most terrifying institution not only in Mdina, but throughout the entire state, is the torture museum, which operates in the city’s dungeons. If you are not afraid to find out what the ancient dungeon hides in its cells, and what horrors await you when you get acquainted with this place, then read our article, or even better - go on a trip to Malta with mandatory visit its ancient capital.

Knights of Malta Museum

Next interesting museum Mdina, which you can read about in the already familiar article about.

National Museum of Natural History

One of the most educational museums in the country operates in the Palace of Justice in the city of Mdina. The establishment opened in 1973. The museum's collections will tell its guests about geology, human evolution, paleontology, flora and fauna of Malta. The establishment is divided into halls of various themes. For example, the museum has a hall of birds from the Maltese cliff, the ecosystems of the small islands of the state (Comino, Filfa, Mushroom Rock, etc.), skeletal anatomy of vertebrates, etc. Entrance to the museum is relatively inexpensive. The most expensive ticket will cost a tourist 5 euros. Discounts are provided for many categories of citizens, and children under 5 years old can view the exhibits of the establishment absolutely free.

Show-museum “The Life Path of Mdina”

Of particular interest to tourists is the video frame located in the ancient building of the city on Mesquite Square. Here, guests of Mdina will enjoy a colorful audio-visual show, introducing its viewers to interesting story the former capital of the island nation. There is really something to see inside the establishment, because historians attribute the age of four thousand years to the majestic Mdina. The show itself lasts 25 minutes. High-quality sound and excellent equipment do their job perfectly. Guests of the show museum will learn about the prehistoric past of the city, the wreck of the ship of the Apostle Paul, the systematic change of rulers, the earthquake of 1693, the appearance of the Knights of St. John in the city, etc. The creators of the video frame made sure that each guest could hear a fascinating story in their native language. The museum's audio guide offers a choice of 13 language programs, including voiceover and Russian.

An incredible experience awaits tourists who choose the Malta-Mdina direction for their vacation. The former capital of the island state can surprise with its austerity and silence, but upon closer acquaintance, Mdina reveals to its guests a lot of unexpected secrets that will remain in your memory forever.

The Main Gate of Mdina, above which is placed the coat of arms of the Grand Master with an 18th century inscription, is located next to the Old Greek Gate.
The watchtower Torre dello Standarddo stands here, next to the gate. In ancient times, a fire was lit at the top of the tower to notify city residents of danger. This is now a police station.

Immediately after the Main Gate on the right you can see a staircase descending into one of the most scary places Middle Ages - this is the Dungeon of Mdina or the Museum of Torture. The inscriptions made by the prisoners are still preserved on the walls. In the square in front of the museum, where witches were burned during the Inquisition, the stronghold of which was Malta, there are real medieval neck stocks in which you can take pictures. The Museum displays all kinds of executioner's tools, and wax figures very clearly demonstrate what happened here several centuries ago. These exhibitions make my heart ache. It's not for the faint of heart, but teenagers from all over the world love this museum.

Working hours from 9-00 to 16-00
Entry cost 4 euros.

Nearby is the Church of St. Agatha, patroness of the Maltese Islands. The church was built at the beginning of the 15th century. According to legend, Saint Agatha hid from her pursuers in this place in the 3rd century. BC. during the Roman persecution of the first Christians.
Next to the Church of St. Agatha is the Cassa Inguanetz Palace. The palace was built as the residence of one of Malta's most noble aristocratic families in the 14th century. Amazing interior decoration.
The Cassa Testaferrata Palace, still owned by one of the Maltese families, impresses with its luxury. It was built on the site of the Temple of Apollo.

In the Palazzo Constanzo, built in the 17th century, you can become a spectator of a stunning audio-visual exhibition called “The Middle Ages”, showing scenes from the life and everyday life of medieval Mdina.

Entrance costs 3 euros for adults, 1.5 for children.
Open from 9-30 to 21-30 from Monday to Saturday.

Most of the palaces in Mdina are still owned by the aristocratic families of Malta. The cost of entry to such “palazzos” and “casas” is not fixed; voluntary donations are accepted; many close at 17-00.
You can also visit in Mdina National Museum Natural History, located in the ancient Palace of Justice (also called the Palace of Master Villena). A collection of minerals, stuffed representatives of the flora and fauna of Malta and various fossils are exhibited here.

Entrance fee 1 lira
The museum is open from 9:00 to 16:30.

St. Paul's Cathedral is built on the site where the first bishop of Malta met the Apostle Paul, who came to Mdina after a shipwreck. Since then, Apostle Paul, like Saint Agatha, has been considered the patron saint of the island. There are ancient doors leading into St. Paul's Cathedral, which are 900 years old. The cathedral was built in the 17th century. On the site of an ancient Norman cathedral, destroyed by an earthquake. The new cathedral has preserved many of the interior items of the destroyed one - Flemish frescoes, paintings, engravings and even a font carved from Irish wood. It's beautiful and majestic inside. St. Paul's Cathedral stands in the central square of the city, which bears the same name, St. Paul's Square.

Along Vilegeinon Street you can go to Bastion Square, from where a breathtaking panorama of the entire island opens. In the evening, it is very convenient to watch fireworks from here during numerous religious holidays called festas.

City of Rabat


Separating from Mdina in the 9th century. under Arab rule, Rabat is still its suburb, providing a contrast to the Silent City. This is an ordinary Maltese city. Rabat has many cafes, restaurants, many tourists and residents. Today it is one of the largest cities in Malta. The following attractions have been preserved in Rabat:

Roman villa. On the site of an ancient Roman house is the Museum of Ancient and Roman History. The museum has many exhibits dating back to the Roman era, and a wonderfully beautiful Roman mosaic has been preserved.
Entrance 1 lira, open from 9-30 to 16-30.

Here, in Rabat, the Church of St. Paul was built next to the Grotto of St. Paul, in which he found his first refuge after the shipwreck. Here is the famous sculpture of the Saint.
Next to the Grotto there are the Catacombs of St. Paul, where underground burials of people were discovered. Dating back to the 5th century. By the way, now in Malta they do not bury people - they only cremate them, since there is a shortage of land.
To be in Malta and not visit its ancient capital, not climb the fortress walls and not look at the life and way of life of medieval knights means not learning anything about this island.

Once you find yourself in Malta, I highly recommend you visit Mdina, it is an absolute must see for any tourist. However, I think you won’t miss it anyway, Mdina stands on a high hill in the center of the island and is visible from many places. The location is not accidental: further away from the shores means further away from places where pirates could land. If you take a taxi from the airport or are picked up by a minivan from the host country, on the way the driver will probably show you from the window at the fortress walls on a high hill, visible from afar and almost everywhere, above which the dome of a large cathedral rises, and will tell you with reverence that this is Mdina, Silent city.

My impression is that the Maltese are very proud of their former capital. Still, it is older than the current capital, Valletta, by a couple of thousand years. I admit, when I was going to Mdina for the first time, I didn’t expect anything special. I have already visited medieval castles in Europe. But Mdina still amazed me. I felt like I was actually transported back in time. In her narrow streets time seems to have stopped; the atmosphere of a medieval fortress city has been preserved here, undisturbed by the bustle modern life.


And this despite the fact that Mdina is not a museum, but a living city, descendants of aristocratic families that lived in the city even before the Knights Hospitallers arrived in Malta still live there, although there are only 306 families, tourists walk the streets, sometimes in large groups , and sometimes cars and horse-drawn carts pass by. But this hardly breaks the silence. I suspect that Mdina has a magical ability, unknown to science, to somehow extinguish voices, the sounds of footsteps, only the clatter of horse hooves sounds echoing. Maybe this is where the name Silent city came from.

How to get there

You can get to Mdina from the Russian Federation using a combined method: plane + bus. Now I will tell you about this option in more detail.

By plane

There is only one airport in Malta, it is located in the south of the island. If you are flying from Russia, probably the first thing that will come to your mind is to take a direct flight from the Maltese national airline. airlines Air Malta.

Direct flight

It has flights not only from Moscow, but also from St. Petersburg and sometimes Yekaterinburg. But in my opinion this is not always the most successful option. Firstly, direct flights are often more expensive than connecting flights from other airlines, unless Air Malta has some kind of promotion. And secondly, Air Malta has been experiencing financial difficulties for several years now, so anything can happen, and the flight can be cancelled. But if your goal is a direct flight, then this is the only option.

In winter, Air Malta flies once a week, in summer it can fly 7 times. Travel time is just over 4 hours, ticket prices start from 180 EUR one way. Ticket options can be viewed at.

Connecting flight

In my experience and the experience of many frequent fliers, the most economical option is to fly Turkish Airlines with a connection in Istanbul. Last summer we managed to fly there and back for 230 EUR or 16 thousand rubles. Travel time is about 6 hours. In general, if you want to save money, the Internet can help you, look for connection options.

How to get from the airport to the city center

You can get from the airport to Mdina by buses X3 and 201, I will tell you about them further.

By train

There is no railway in Malta. It used to exist, but ceased to exist about 70 years ago.

By bus

Getting to Mdina is easy, although perhaps not very fast, so I advise leaving early.

Keep in mind that Maltese buses run on very winding routes, so with the island measuring 27 km by 14 km, the journey from point A to point B can take an hour and a half if there are no traffic jams.

For example, from Valletta, Sliema and any tourist town you can get to Mdina by regular bus. From Valletta to Mdina there are buses 50 and 53 (you will get there in about 35 minutes), from Sliema - 202 (you will have to travel about an hour), from Bugibba and Qawra - 186 (average travel time 45 minutes) or by bus X3, it goes faster , about 30 minutes, but only runs once an hour.

There are even buses that can be reached directly from the airport, these are the same X3 and 201, you can get there in about an hour, although you are unlikely to go to Mdina with suitcases. All these buses stop at the same place, the stop is called Mdina. Moreover, bus drivers know that many tourists go there, and they usually loudly announce when to get off. The schedule of each bus can be found there, at the stop.

Ticket price

Tickets for any bus, except for special night flights, cost 2 EUR in summer and 1.5 EUR in winter. One ticket allows you to ride for 2 hours with any number of transfers. If you come to Malta for -2 weeks, I advise you to buy a travel pass. There are 2 options: a ticket for 15 EUR for 12 trips, unlimited in validity, and a weekly ticket for an unlimited number of trips for 21 EUR.

Clue:

Mdina - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

If we compare the seasons, I would not say that any season is better or worse for a trip to Mdina. This is a small compact ancient city, although it is the former capital, the houses are the same at any time of the year. The plants that exist are evergreen. The only difference between the seasons is the number of people on the streets. You can view tours to Malta from Russia.

But no matter what time of year you come to Malta, be sure to get to Mdina after sunset, when it gets completely dark. Not necessarily at night (there may be problems going back), the main thing is that it is dark. In summer in Malta, at 9 pm it is already real night, and in winter it gets dark much earlier. Mdina at night is just a fairy tale.

Houses made of yellowish local sandstone, illuminated by rare lanterns, look completely different than during the day, I like to look at the carvings, sculptures on the facades, even just the texture of the stone - everything looks more prominent.

The only hotel in Mdina is five-star and not at all cheap at any time of the year; to be honest, I didn’t notice that its prices differed much depending on the season. This is not a place where the average tourist flocks.

Mdina in summer

I like to go to Mdina on hot days, not because it is any better at that time, but because the heat in Mdina is easier than in any other city or village in Malta.

As you will see for yourself, the former capital of Malta stands on a fairly high hill and, accordingly, is blown by winds from all sides. Therefore, the same +28–38 °C as on the entire island is tolerated better in Mdina.

And that is not all. The Arabs, when rebuilding the capital of the island for themselves 12 centuries ago, planned it in accordance with their own ideas, and so that the city was easy to defend.

The streets are made narrow and winding so that you can take cover around the corners and shoot with a bow. But this is good for us because these streets are almost always shady.

Of course, there are more tourists in Mdina in the summer than at any other time of the year, but I can’t say that this has ever bothered me particularly. It is relatively crowded only on the main street and on the observation deck on the fortress wall, from where you can see most of the island, but at the same time, as I already wrote, it is still quiet.

But in the side streets you can meet a maximum of two or three people. I don't know where everyone is going, but that's how it is. Another mystery of Mdina.

Mdina in autumn, spring and winter

Outside of summer, there are fewer tourists throughout Malta, and accordingly there are fewer of them in Mdina, and the silent city will be even quieter. I think this has its own charm. But there are also disadvantages. From autumn to spring it is more windy on the island, and Mdina, as I already said, is on a hill. If you enjoy the wind in the summer, then in cooler seasons it’s not so great. In winter, temperatures can even drop to +5 °C, and on some record cold days up to +1 °C.

Would you say that this is warm compared to the Russian frosts? I don't agree. With high humidity and, most importantly, strong wind, the cold penetrates to the bones.

But in general, I would say that the seasons in Mdina are not particularly different from one another. Judge for yourself: in Mdina there are just one or two trees, blooming and turning green, or vice versa, flying with yellow leaves, there is nothing special, but the houses and streets are the same at any time of the year. I have been to Mdina in autumn, winter, and spring, and from photographs I cannot distinguish one time from another, except perhaps by the clothes of the people. And even that is not an indicator: I came across cold-resistant Englishmen who walked briskly in the freezing rain in shorts and sandals. The only exception is, perhaps, the Christmas period.


In December, traditional wreaths made of fir branches appear on some doors, artificial, of course, but you won’t find particularly lush decorations there; aristocrats prefer restraint.

Mdina - weather by month

Clue:

Mdina - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Despite all my sympathy for Mdina, I would not live there. Mdina is good for a short visit, but not for living: it is very quiet there. And for independent trips Not the same on the island comfortable spot. Compared to Valletta, where the main bus terminal is located, or Bugibba and Aura, there are not many buses passing through Mdina, the routes are long and winding, so the road to any interesting point on the island will take a lot of time.

Mdina is tiny by modern standards, for me the road from the main gate to Bastion Square, that is, the opposite wall, takes 10 minutes, well, maybe 15, if you walk completely leg by leg. Therefore, the concepts of center and outskirts are not applicable to Mdina. For the same reason, there are no places in Mdina that are dangerous to go into.

The hotel is small and nice looking, I didn’t go inside, I just drank coffee in the outdoor cafe at this hotel.

There are also Luxury Guard Tower apartments, consisting of a single room, accommodation costs “only” about 120 EUR per day, such a small modest apartment with a balcony. Would you say it's expensive? Well, it’s a city of aristocrats.

You can also see prices for apartments at.

Main attractions. What to see

As for attractions, I would say that the main attraction of Mdina is Mdina itself: the palaces, the side streets with blank walls, the whole atmosphere. You can simply come to this fortified city and wander the streets without entering a single museum or reading a single sign, and it will already be interesting. But if you want sights, as they say in Odessa, “I have them.”

Top 5

Palazzo Falzon

In my opinion, the most interesting of all the medieval buildings in Mdina. That is, I do not rule out that the palaces of the Inguanets and Testaferrata families are many times more interesting inside, but these are private residences and they are not allowed in just to gawk. And you can come to Palazzo Falzon both as a museum - there is antique furniture in the house, paintings on the ceilings have been preserved - and to some exhibition from the field of ancient life, they are held there quite often. I remember I was there at an exhibition of antique perfume bottles, another time antique fans were exhibited there. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you can get to a lecture, for example, about the architecture of Malta.

You can't see it from the street, but there is a nice courtyard in the middle of the palazzo.

Palazzo Falzon is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 17 except public holidays. The ticket costs 10 EUR, not cheap, but this price includes an audio guide in English. Children from 6 to 12 years old are admitted free of charge. For some reason, those under 6 years old are not allowed.

Bastion Square

This is a small platform at the upper edge of the fortress wall, from which good weather you can see a good half of Malta. Finding it is very simple: enter Mdina and follow main street with the unpronounceable name Villegaignon, until you reach Bastion Square, which just abuts the fortress wall on the side opposite the main gate. It won’t take you much time, because the length of Mdina’s main street is only 500 meters. Then you just have to climb a few steep steps and – voila! - you are on the fortress wall.

Three audiovisual shows The Mdina Experience, The Knights of Malta, Medieval Times

In Malta, entertainment from a series of “audiovisual shows” is common. There are at least three of them in Mdina, and there are shows of this kind in Valletta. They are arranged approximately the same, but differ in theme.

Visitors are brought into such places in batches, like going to a movie. You pass through a suite of halls, in each of which human-sized dolls in realistic settings act out some scene from the history of Malta. All this is accompanied by words, appropriate music, and noises. Almost a feeling of reality. Based on the description, it may seem somewhat primitive, but in fact it’s interesting, in any case, I didn’t regret going.

I’ll say right away about all three: you don’t have to look for them in Mdina; every tourist and person who looks like a tourist is almost grabbed by the hands of girls in national Maltese costumes, offering booklets of these three shows. The booklets also have directions, but if you ask, they will even show you to the door.

The Mdina Experience

Located in an old mansion on Mesquita square

Learning the history of Mdina from such a show, in my opinion, is much more interesting than listening to it from a guide or reading it. The most interesting period, in my opinion, was when the knights (“who came in large numbers”) came to Malta and tried to establish relations with the local aristocracy.

The Knights of Malta

As the title suggests, this show is about the history of the Knights Hospitaller in Malta. In my opinion, of all three shows, this is the most childish, although, as I said, they are also interesting for adults.

Located in Casa Magazzini

Unlike other shows, this is not a palace, but a former warehouse from the times of the knights.

The only attraction that is open 7 days a week except public holidays. The show is open from 10 to 17, adult tickets cost 6.5 EUR, children’s tickets – 3 EUR.

Medieval Times

This show is located in Palazzo Costanzo on the main street of Mdina.

Of the three shows, I found this the most interesting, perhaps because it is less tied specifically to Malta and Mdina and relates to medieval life in general. The motto of this show is "Step into the past", and that's exactly what it is.

The show runs from Monday to Saturday from 10 to 16.30. An adult ticket costs 5 EUR, a child ticket costs 3 EUR.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Cathedral

In Mdina is the main cathedral of Malta - St. Paul's Cathedral (St. John's Cathedral in Valletta, which was the main church of the Knights of Malta, is just a co-cathedral, something like a co-ruler). The Cathedral stands on St. Paul's Square, on the main square of Mdina. Considering the size of the Silent City, you won't miss it. And it is precisely its dome that rises above the fortress walls when you see Mdina from afar.

Personally, I like the cathedral in Valletta better, in my opinion, its decor is more noble, but this is a matter of taste, judge for yourself. The Maltese, being good Catholics, spared no money and effort on decorating their churches, and even more so, the main thing.

St. Paul's Cathedral is open to tourists from Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 16.30, on Saturdays from 9.30 to 15.30. Entrance costs 5 EUR, children under 12 years old are free.

Carmelite Priory and Church

The church is beautiful, open to the public for free, and there is something of a small museum where you can see the actual cells in which the monks of the Carmelite order lived, and the refectory.

I like the carrot cake in the small café inside the Priory. Opening hours are unclear and not clearly written anywhere.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Torture Museum

Usually, when it comes to museums in Mdina, everyone mentions the torture museum (Mdina Dungeons). I won’t recommend it, honestly, I can’t imagine what pleasure you can get from contemplating something like this.

But if you really want to go there, then it is located at the very gates of Mdina and is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 to 16.30, entrance costs 4 EUR, children under 12 years old - 2 EUR. I don’t know who would think of taking a child under 12 years old to such a museum.

Natural History Museum

In my opinion, the most interesting museum in Mdina is the Natural History Museum.

It is also located just outside the main city gates. This is where you should go with your children.


This museum has a huge collection of stuffed birds, and the birds look like they are alive; in addition, there is a rich collection of butterflies, various fish and skeletons of prehistoric animals. Perhaps something similar can be seen in museums in Moscow and other cities, but, in my impression, the museum in Mdina is richer and somehow more pleasant.

Cathedral Museum

Or Mdina cathedral museum. If you stand facing the entrance to the cathedral, the museum is nearby on the right.

Not considering myself a fan of church museums, I went there only because the ticket to the cathedral is also valid for entry to the museum at the cathedral. Many of the exhibits, in my amateurish opinion, are of interest only to narrow specialists or big amateurs, say, a collection of carpentry tools. But! It turned out that this museum has a collection of engravings, including Rembrandt and Durer! But this is already a value on a global scale. So I recommend it. The museum is open during the same hours as the cathedral, with a single ticket.

Parks

There are no parks in Mdina, and there are not many trees. There are several trees in Bastion Square and even one here and there. But there is a park outside the city walls, or rather, under the fortress walls, where there once was a moat.

Warning! I don't recommend staying in this park late, it is locked at night. Once, a Maltese family was locked there by mistake, which was even written about in the main newspaper of the island, Times of Malta.

What to see in 1 day

Everything that is in Mdina (not counting museums) can be seen in one day. I think you can even do it in half a day. Unless all three audiovisual shows at once will be too much, then you can choose any of them, they are of equal value. The route for visiting Mdina is simple:

  • We enter the city through the main gate, after a few meters there will be a door to the tourism office on our right. During the day it is always open, it is impossible not to find it.
  • We take there a map of Mdina and booklets with descriptions of audiovisual shows. And then we walk along the main street and look around. Exactly. In Mdina, the main way to explore the city is to literally look around. Because every house there is interesting.
  • First on our left will be the mansion of the oldest aristocratic Inguanez family with nice balconies and interesting door handles,

  • A little further on the opposite side is the Testaferrata mansion with a red double door and, again, interesting handles.

  • And so on. In 5 minutes or more - depending on how long you take photos - we will find ourselves in the very heart of Mdina, on the main square of St. Paul. If the cathedral is open, we buy a ticket and go in. Then we go to the cathedral museum. All this together will take an hour and a half.
  • It's time to refresh yourself. We walk a little more, passing the Palazzo Sofia, and find ourselves near the Carmelite Priory. We go to the Priory, if it is open, it will take us about 20 minutes, and then we turn right into the cafe at the Priory. If the church is closed, then we go straight to the cafe, it will be open in any case.
  • Having refreshed ourselves, we go back to the main street and walk further along it, continuing to look around. In about 5 minutes we will go out to Bastion Square, where we climb to the upper edge of the city wall and survey the surrounding area.

That's it, we went right through Mdina. There is no further program, but the fun begins: we explore the side streets. From Bastion Square you can turn left - then you will soon come back to the cathedral, only from the side. You can go back along the same main street, but now turning into any side street you like. Or you can - and I think this is the best option - go to the right, along the city wall, looking into the side streets or turning into them, but if you turn, you will again find yourself on the main street. In general, then there is complete freedom of action. When you've had your fill of wandering around the streets, go to one of the audiovisual shows; you'll certainly meet their barkers.
Before heading home, head back to Bastion Square, from there it's a stone's throw to Café Fontanella. Coffee with chocolate cake is a great end to a walk around Mdina in my opinion. You will have dinner at your hotel.

What to see in the area

Roman villa

Located near the Mdina bus stop.

Tiny museum. Inside, ancient Roman mosaics have been preserved - restored - but overall, in my opinion, nothing special.

Food. What to try

There are not many places to eat in Mdina; you can count the number of cafes and restaurants on one hand. But this is understandable, the city is tiny. There are expensive restaurants and very simple cafes, I couldn’t find anything in between. I usually have a snack in Mdina in a cafeteria at some museum or show. Coffee and cake will cost 5 EUR.

I definitely advise you to visit the Fontanella cafe, it is located almost on the city wall and from there you have a beautiful view of the island (however, if you are lucky with a table, some of the tables are located in the back of the room). And they also make the most delicious chocolate cake I have ever tried.

  • Restaurant Medina: appetizers around 10 EUR, soups around 8 EUR, pasta with various sauces 9.50 EUR, main course 20–25 EUR.
  • Bacchus Restaurant: appetizers less than 10 EUR, main course around 20 EUR, desserts 5–8 EUR.

    • Holidays

    I saw only one local holiday in Mdina - an event dedicated to the landing of Roger Siculus in Malta, who freed Christians from the power of the Arabs. It was in October. People in ancient clothes walked and rode through the streets on horses, scenes were acted out, someone fought with someone else with swords...

    Everything was so vague, because it was only visible, but nothing was heard, and it was only possible to understand what was happening approximately, and the characters could only be identified by their costumes. This is a rare case when the streets of Mdina were not crowded. Something similar was held in the spring: the Medieval Festival. But what I saw in the fall didn’t inspire me too much, and I didn’t go in the spring.

    There are no souvenirs that are only available in Mdina and nowhere else. But what Mdina does have is a large – by Maltese standards – glass shop made by local craftsmen, Mdina Glass. It is located at the very entrance to the city, you won’t miss it. If you want to bring something made of glass from Malta as a souvenir, I highly recommend looking there.

    How to get around the city

    If you are not a descendant of the Maltese aristocracy living in Mdina (unfortunately, I am not), then you will not be allowed into the city by car. Therefore, you have two options for moving around the fortified city. On foot or by horse-drawn cart, carrocin. A carriage ride may look tempting from the outside, but I don’t recommend it.

    Firstly, it’s expensive, bargaining can even start at 50 EUR, although more often they offer 25 EUR right away. And secondly and most importantly, the streets in Mdina are so narrow that you cannot pass through all of them even with this ancient form of transport. And I’m sure that exploring the city, stopping wherever you want, looking at balconies, carvings on facades and door handles, is much more convenient and pleasant on foot. Moreover, as I already mentioned, walking along the longest – central – street of Mdina from one end to the other takes about 15 minutes.

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    Anything to add?