Mdina
姆迪纳 · Mdina, Malta
Malta's former capital, known as the "Silent City". Pass through the Baroque Mdina Gate, completed in 1724, into stone lanes lined with noble residences, and look out over the island from the bastion walk.
Know before you go
- Driving into the old town (only residents and other permitted vehicles)
- wandering around taking photos during Mass
- making noise in the lanes at night
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
Legend
St Paul and the governor Publius
The apostle Paul was shipwrecked on Malta in AD 60, and tradition holds that the island's Roman governor, Publius, received him and later became Bishop of Malta. According to local tradition, St Paul's Cathedral stands where the two men met, and St Paul's Grotto in neighbouring Rabat is said to be where Paul lived and preached.
Source: Wikipedia: Mdina; National Geographic: What to see and do in Mdina
History
A Baroque cathedral after the earthquake
The city's cathedral dates back to the 13th century and was partly destroyed in the 1693 Sicily earthquake. Between 1697 and 1703 the architect Lorenzo Gafà rebuilt it in the Baroque style.
Source: Wikipedia: Mdina
History
The new gate of 1724
In the 1720s Grand Master Vilhena ordered Mdina to be renovated; the old gate was walled up and a new one built nearby. The Baroque Mdina Gate, completed in 1724, was designed by the Frenchman Mondion, and today most visitors enter the city through it.
Source: Wikipedia: Mdina; Wikipedia: Mdina Gate
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Mdina stands on high ground in the centre of Malta's main island, right next to Rabat. It keeps its medieval street plan, with noble palaces lining the stone lanes, and its main entrance is the Baroque Mdina Gate, completed in 1724; St Paul's Cathedral and the Cathedral Museum stand within the walls, and the bastion walk looks out over the island. Mdina is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The Phoenicians founded a town here around the 8th century BC, and in Roman times it was called Melita; under Arab rule it took the name Mdina, from the Arabic word for "town". When the Knights Hospitaller arrived in Malta in 1530, they based themselves in Birgu and Mdina lost its status as capital; in 1571 the capital moved to newly built Valletta, Mdina's population shrank, and it gradually earned the nickname "Silent City".
Local customs
- Walk the stone lanes through the Mdina Gate
- visit St Paul's Cathedral and the museum
- take in the views from the bastion walk
- tour the old town by horse carriage
- watch the sunset from the walls in the evening.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Driving into the old town (only residents and other permitted vehicles)
- wandering around taking photos during Mass
- making noise in the lanes at night
Locals appreciate DO
- Park outside the walls and enter on foot
- keep quiet inside the cathedral
- tread lightly in the residential lanes, especially at night
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Wandering the old town is free
- some museums charge admission, with prices as published officially. There are not many restaurants and cafés inside the walls, so booking ahead is wise in high season
- summer sun is strong, so bring sun protection.
- Buses from Valletta reach Rabat
- from the stop, walk through Howard Gardens to the Mdina Gate. If you drive, park outside the walls. Spring and autumn are mild and best for strolling
- summer evenings are the most beautiful, though daytime is hot
- in winter there are fewer visitors and the streets are quieter. Check official sources for opening hours.
Photos
