Mdina Malta: Timeless Beauty

Mdina Malta: Timeless Beauty

Mdina is located on a hill lying on the South Western coast of Malta. The town was the capital of Malta earlier and was called Melite. With the Arab influence on the region it got its present name. The location of Mdina on the top of a hill captivates tourists to its mesmerizing beauty, while the medieval era culture and atmosphere takes you back in time away from all modernism and mechanism.

photo by Hazlisles

With many new knights and masters ruling the town from time to time, Mdina faced many ups and downs politically. The fortifications constructed by them divided the town into two parts, one lying inside the wall and the other outside. The outside part developed into the town of Rabat. Mdina lost its importance during the reign of the knights of St. John and the Malta’s capital was shifted from Mdina to Bigru.

Mdina is a very small town with population of less than 300 people. It is also called ‘The Silent City’ by the locals. The medieval time alleys and narrow streets running down add to the dramatic touch of Mdina. This reflects the true Maltese charm and tradition with minimum impact from the Knights. The city is well maintained and kept clean by the locals.

There are many restaurants arrayed on the cities panoramic bastions and magnificent palace courtyards. The city is lamp lit by evening and offers a perfect atmosphere to spend a relaxing evening dining out or just strolling through the timeless streets

photo by Lars

Ancient Baroque architecture is the main attraction of this place. St. Paul’s Cathedral designed by the architect Lorenzo Gafa leads them all. It displays minute detailing by the master designer. The dome, the bell towers and other structures are very neatly designed. The interior of the cathedral features Irish wood carvings and lavish tessellated floorings. The cathedral is a house of precious paintings, sculptors and baptistery. This is a must visit stunning example of Baroque art and architecture.

The Mdina Experience is an excellent audio visual show. The show features a glance into Mdina history and its timeless possession of medieval and baroque arts. Watch the show at the time of arrival to this city to get well acquainted with what this tiny yet potential tourism place has to offer.

Some other attractions of this place are The Cathedral Museum which can be seen in the Baroque Seminary, Vilhena Palace, Palazzo Santa Sophia, Palazzo Falzon, Bastion Square, St. Agatha’s chapel and Benedictine Monastery. Bastion Square is your ticket to experience the panoramic view of many Maltese islands. Vilhena Palace is the place to locate The National Museum of Natural History. Palazzo Palace donated to the government by its owners is a fine example of medieval architecture. The most striking feature of this city is the rare to see mix of medieval and baroque architecture.

For water activities, Ghajn Tuffieha beach is the nearest beach from Mdina. There are many small shops selling tourist souvenirs and other goods in central Mdina. The city is connected through regular bus services from Valletta. Look for the bus no. 80 or 81 to reach to Mdina.