Mdina Things to Do

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The National Museum of Natural History inside the Palazzo Vilhena will be the first building that you see when entering Mdina. I did not go inside the museum, but took a glance into the great innercourt for a few minutes. It is a pity that I did not have more than 1 hour for Mdina, but maybe next time I will have some more time for the museum!

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This is the main entrance from Rabat to Mdina, when you want to go there from Howard Gardens, where most of buses will drop their tourists. There are other gates as well, but this one is the most beautiful in my opinion. Cars are normally not allowed in the "Silent City" of Mdina with a few exceptions for local people.

Mdina offers a wide range of ancient archtitectural styles from the British influenced Victorian Gothic to the Sicily's Norman architecture.

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful buildings is the Casa Gourgion building, which is considered to be a fine example of the simple Maltese-style architecture. It has been renovated just recently.

Directions:
The Casa Gourgion can be found on the northen side of the St. Paul's Square (Misrah San Pawl), right in the centre of Mdina's fortified town.

Beside the Main Gate, the walled city of Mdina has two more gates to enter the city: The Gharreqin Gate and the Greek Gate.

The latter one dates back to the 16th and 17th century. It was named after a small Greek community which once lived in this area of the city. The Greek Gate was restored in 2004.

Directions:
The Greek Gate is situated near the south western edge of the walled city. The gate leads to the St. Nicolas Street (Triq San Nikola).

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The history of the St. Agatha's Chapel dates back to 1418 when it was built, but the chapel was severly damaged in the 1693 earthquake.

The current structure was errected in 1694 after designs of Lorenzo Gafa, who also designed Mdina's Cathedral. During the Second World War the chapel was used to house refugees.

Directions:
The St. Agatha's Chapel can be found near the Main Gate, just at the street corner of the streets Triq Villegaignon and Triq L-Inguanez.

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The Carmelite Church was built between 1660 and 1675 after designs of the French architect Mederico Blondel. It was damaged during the 1693 earthquake, but rebuilt afterwards.

The church is a fine example of the Maltese Baroque style. A small museum can be found in the church priory.

Directions:
The Carmelite Church stands at the Villegaignon Street (Triq Villegaignon), which is Mdina's main street in north-south direction.

Website: http://www.carmelitepriorymuseum.com/

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The Main Gate is the most important entrance to the fortified town of Mdina. The bridge in front of the Main Gate spans a dry moat which was once digged by Arabs.

The current structure dates back to 1724 when the gate was reconstructed by Grandmaster Manoel Vilhena after the big earthquake in 1693.

The coat of arms on the front of the gate is the emblem of Grandmaster Vilhena.

Directions:
Mdina's Main Gate can be found at the southern end of the fotified city. It is located more or less opposite to the bus station of Mdina/Rabat.

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The twin-towered St. Paul's Cathedral was constructed at the end of the 17th century and replaced a former Norman cathedral, which was distroyed during the earthquake in 1693.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral was designed in Baroque style after plans of the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa.

An admission fee has to be paid to visit the interior of the Cathedral.

Directions:
The St. Paul's Cathedral dominates the St. Paul's Square (Misrah San Pawl) right in the centre of the fortified town.