Mdina Things to Do

The National Museum is the national repository of biological specimens. Life and earth sciences are represented, which has a particular focus on the Maltese Islands. It is housed in the 18th century Magisterial Palace of Justice within the medieval walled city of Mdina. The original building served as the seat of the Università, or local Government. In the early 18th century, a new entrance to the city was constructed and the Portuguese Grand Master Antonio Manuel de Vilhena (1722-36) re-structured the building at personal expense and transformed it into the present palace. A bronze bust of the Grandmaster of the Order lies above the main door and Vilhena’s coat-of-arms are sculptured on the main gateway and inside the portico. In the early 20th century the palace was converted into a hospital through the generous funding of HRH the Duke of Connaught and was officially inaugurated on 22nd April, 1909, by King Edward VII. Throughout the forty or so years of its existence, it was popularly known as the Connaught Hospital. The National Museum of Natural History was set up in the palace in 1973. Historically important collections, namely Mamo’s choncological collection, Mizzi’s mineral collection, and the various collections of Giuseppe Despott. The reference collection holds over 10,000 rocks and minerals, over 3,500 birds, bird's eggs and nests, 200 mammals, over 200 fish species, thousands of local and exotic shells and insects. The fossil collection is also noteworthy as it contains a number of large fish, numerous species of sea urchins and other marine fauna found embedded in limestone rocks. The museum focuses mainly on the faunal aspects of natural sciences and the current displays cover themes such as human evolution, insects, birds and habitats and marine ecosystems. The Geology and Palaeontology displays are of particular merit and are of both local and international interest. The coincollection is awesome, dated back to before the birth of Jesus
The Museum is open Monday to Sunday: 9.00-17.00

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The Mdina Dungeons are located beneath the Magisterial Vilhena Palace just inside the main entrance gate to Mdina, at the first turning on the right.
Here in these series of secret underground passageways, chambers and cells a number of events, and the often mysterious circumstances surrounding them, have been recreated to portray events from the dark side of Maltese history.
From Roman times to the Arabs, the Knights and even Napoleon, you will find episodes and characters from the ancient past portrayed in startling realism, revealing stories sometimes too dramatic to be believed.
Whilst you wander at your own pace, you will discover at every turn Drama, Mystery and even Horror from dark forgotten days in an atmosphere of an authentic Medieval Dungeon.
A speaker tells you the frightened storys of the past.
It is quite dark in the dungeons but it gives the visitor a special feeling.
I dont think that it is a place to visit for young children, wax-corpses locked in the cells, chopped bodies etc...
At one of the pictures you can see a woman leaving her unwanted baby through a small window to the nuns that once worked here.
The entrance fee: Lm1.60 adults;80c children;students 50c

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You probably will enter Mdina by this gate. There are some other gates, but this one is the main gate and it's close to where the bus stops. The gate was newly build in its current baroque stile in 1724.

This church was the first cathedral of Malta, the St John's Co-Cathedral in Valetta was named a cathedral later. The St Pauls cathedral was build around 1700. There had been an earlier church but it was destroyed in an earthquake. Like in the cathedral in Valetta, it has a marble floor with tombstones. We've been there after the St Peter and Paul holiday, I guess that was the reason that it was decorated with purple curtains. Unfortunately you were allowed to take photos in the church. On the opposite site of the entrance you will find a cathedral museum, but we haven't visited it.

There are lots of small streets and inside you can feel like in Middle Ages. Mdina is not big, but it's great to walk around there and watch all the old houses. You won't see much cars driving around in Mdina, and also there hadn't been much tourists. It's really a quite city, only the people that gave you some flyers about shows and restaurants were a bit disturbing!

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Building commenced in 1697 after an eartquake destroyed the prior Cathedral. Stained Glass, Frescos and paintings inside depict the Shipwreck and life of St Paul ( who else !!) . The Holy Virgin with baby Jesus painting is said to be painted by St Luke Himself. He's the auther of Acts of Apostles and is said that he was on the journey with St Paul when they ended stranded in Malta. Anyways, I don't beleive this myself, but it's good to let you know. You should make it a point to visit this Cathedral !
p.s I risked my neck for you VT members, as no cameras are allowed in the Cathedral. Please see the three other Cathedral photos

A very modern Audio Visual Presentation of the Mdina History. Souvenier shop and cafe also at Ground Floor. A picture is worth a thousand words and a teaser movie of what you'll expect can be seen if you click on the official website below. Open Monday till Friday 1030hrs till 1600 hrs. The show takes appx half an hour and the entrance fee is appx 2 Euros

If you're not planning to visit any churches, museums or attractions in Mdina it will be a wise choice to visit after 1700 hrs. In the evening Mdina is REEEAALY Silent and you can practically have the city for yourself. There's public transport to Rabat/Imdina from all Touristic villages such as Sliema, Bugibba, St Paul's Bay and St Julians.Click website link for Public transport timetable