Mdina is the old capital of Malta and is located in the center of the island. The place looks back on more than 4,000 years of history and is also called the “City of Silence”. In any case, Mdina is one of the most beautiful walled cities in all of Europe. It is conspicuously enthroned on a 190-metre-high hill above the surrounding countryside. The old town is completely car-free and exudes a unique magic that hardly any visitor can escape.

Brief history of Mdina

Already under the Romans, Mdina experienced its first heyday and was much larger at that time than it is today. Before that, the Phoenicians had already shaped this area. From 870 AD, the Arabs ruled over the city and also gave it its name. However, Mdina received its current strong fortress walls under the rule of the Normans in the 12th century. These strong walls then also prevented the Turks from invading in the 15th century. The former stables of Mdina now form an independent city, namely the neighboring Rabat. While Mdina was the capital of Malta under the Knights of St. John for a short time from 1530, it soon had to give up this role to Birgu and finally to Valletta . Since then, Mdina has experienced a significant decline in population and today has just 400 inhabitants with a declining trend. Neighboring Rabat is much larger. Last but not least, the British stopped by Mdina during their colonial rule.

The most important sights in Mdina

The Main Gate

As a rule, you enter Mdina through the large baroque city gate. It is the prelude to an atmospheric tour through the narrow streets of the old town. It was built in 1724 by order of Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena. After passing the Main Gate, the first thing you come across is the Torre dello Standardo. This is part of the massive city fortifications and was used by the Knights of St. John for communication with other cities in Malta .

The heart of Mdina – the cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral is the unmissable focal point of the old town of Mdina. Like so many other churches in Malta, it is built of white limestone and has two twin towers. Kept simple on the outside, the richly decorated interior of the cathedral is all the more impressive. You can see artistic baroque decorations, several tombs, beautiful frescoes and the dome enthroned above everything. Right next to the cathedral, the adjoining cathedral museum is also worth a visit.

The Palaces of Mdina

Mdina’s old town is characterized by several magnificent palaces. The Palazzo Falson from the 13th century and the Palazzo Vilhena on St. Publius Square are particularly impressive. The latter palace was built in the 17th century and now houses the exhibitions of the Natural History Museum. Underground stretches a branching labyrinth of corridors and chambers, the so-called Mdina Dungeons.

The fortress walls of Mdina

The mighty fortress walls surround the old town of Mdina almost squarely. Today, the walls can be visited and guarantee unique views of the narrow streets of the village and the varied surrounding area. The city wall has both medieval and baroque elements. However, an earthquake at the end of the 17th century destroyed parts of the defiant fortress walls. The alternation of light and shadow creates unforgettable plays of colour here as well as in the narrow streets of the old town.

A beautiful view can be enjoyed not least from the Pjazza Tas-Sur. It is lined with pretty town houses.

Food & Drink in Mdina

The cozy alleys of Mdina invite you to try some of the local food and drinks. Fresh fish and the fish soup Aljotta with garlic, rice and tomatoes are just as much a part of it as the Maltese vegetable stew or the rabbit stew “Stuffat Tal-Fenek”. This is also served fried. The optionally sweet or savoury pastizzi, a greasy puff pastry, should also be tried. “Qassatat” is the name of another popular snack with pea or ricotta filling. Inspired by Italy, fresh pasta is of course also served, but the Arabic influences have also left their mark on Maltese cuisine. The best way to go with it is the tart-sweet lemonade Kinnie, the national drink of Malta, or a cool Cisk lager. For example, Café Fontanella with its beautiful view is recommended for a bite to eat.

Travel time and climate for Mdina

Summers in Malta are usually warm, humid and dry. In winter, on the other hand, it can also be windy and cool. In July it is warmest with just under 30°C. Rain usually only occurs between September and March. June and July are completely free of precipitation. Spring and autumn are considered the best time to travel, but even in summer, after an extended day of swimming, it is worth taking a detour to the “City of Silence”, when most day visitors have already left Mdina. Especially in the evening it exudes a fantastic atmosphere.

The pearl of Malta has six letters: Sliema. And if you pronounce the name of this tourist stronghold of the island in the Mediterranean fluently, you will get a first impression of the elegance of this shopping mile, which is so popular with holidaymakers. In Sliema, there is little left to indicate that this was once a tranquil fishing village, as the place has long since been transformed into a centre with flair and charm. And with a beach promenade that is unparalleled in Malta .

The view across the bay to Valletta

From the shores of the Mediterranean, Sliema offers views all the way to the island’s bustling capital, Valletta. But the small town on the other side of the bay has now conquered a permanent place in Malta’s rankings. If you set off on a flying visit to Valletta, you book a place on the ferry in the port of Sliema. There, numerous offices also offer harbor tours and all-day island tours. Anyone who has registered in one of the pretty hotels and guesthouses in Sliema should know that English is the colloquial language in this part of Malta. This is also common among the inhabitants and is in contradiction to numerous other regions of the island. Sliema was the preferred destination of wealthy islanders a century ago, who built their summer residences here. A few have been preserved on the promenade and bear witness to the Victorian splendour of yesteryear.

An 18th-century three-masted ship

However, the historical past of Sliema, when Moors, Romans and the members of the Order of St. John gathered there, is only presented in a few ruins. At the bay that separates the city from the metropolis of Valletta, there is hardly anything left to see of the former fortress of Tigne. Rather, modern residential complexes were built on the peninsula, where the local militia maintained a guard post as early as the early 15th century. The so-called “Fort Cambridge Apartments” are among the most striking buildings in Malta. In the bay, however, you should visit the replica of a three-masted ship from the 18th century. The “Black Pearl” has repeatedly served as a backdrop for various films and is now home to a restaurant.

Over ladders to the cool waters

The water on Sliema’s doorstep is clear and clean, but you won’t find sandy beaches in the immediate vicinity of the pretty little town. If you want to take a cool bath there, you can go to the ladders that lead directly to the floods. Almost everywhere the beaches have a rocky subsoil. There are hardly any water sports on offer in the bay, as it is teeming with sailing yachts. St. George’s Bay, on the other hand, offers everything that pleases the heart of bathers: surfing, water skiing, jet skiing, diving and snorkeling. There is a small island in the bay, which can be reached via a bridge. On Manoel Island, at least one historic fortress has been preserved in ruins.

Safe bathing in stone pools

Very popular with holidaymakers and locals is the beach of Fond Ghadir. It is located between the Tower of St. Julian and Battery II Fortizza. There, bathing in stone pools is possible without danger, even in stormy winds. The infrastructure on the beach has recently received a considerable boost. There are shower cabins and a sufficient supply of sun loungers and umbrellas. However, if you shy away from the short drive to Fond Ghadir, you can switch directly from the Bizazza shopping street to Qui-Si-Sana beach. The beach promenade of Sliema leads to neighboring St. Julian’s and is equipped with numerous benches. Many locals meet here in the morning hours. If you have chosen St. Julian’s as the domicile of your Malta holiday, you should know that it can be a bit louder here at times. In the district of Paceville there are several bars, discos and clubs.

To the “Blue Lagoon” in Gozo

Gourmets in particular feel very much at home in Sliema, as the restaurants there have always enjoyed the reputation of being a kind of mecca for gourmets. An experience of a special kind is a boat trip from the harbour of Sliema to the famous Blue Lagoon. It is located on Malta’s sister island of Gozo. The fourteen-kilometre-long island was once home to the Neolithic Gganthija Temple. Today, however, only ruins of it can be seen. The legendary “Blue Gate”, a rocky window in the sea, also no longer exists. This sight of nature collapsed some time ago. But what has remained are the wonderful and quiet bays and the crystal clear waters of the Blue Lagoon. It is definitely worth visiting on a holiday in Sliema.