I by no means go to Malta with out spending at the very least in the future within the islandโs former capital โ generally known as the Silent Metropolis, itโs simple to fill in the future in Mdina with youngsters as nicely.
comprises affiliate hyperlinks*
Nowadays, youโll discover loads of followers of Sport of Thrones visiting the town which was partly filmed right here, together with the principle gate of Mdina, which is most guestsโ place to begin to get into the town.
However when you get by means of the bustle of horses and carts and the crowds which head over the bridge and cluster across the memento retailers by the doorway, itโs simple to discover a quieter nook on this historic metropolis, in addition to various household sights.
Why go to Mdina with youngsters
Thereโs been a metropolis on this web site since round 700BCE, when it was based by the Phoenicians โ the present identify is a corruption of the Arab phrase Medina, and the official founding of the settlement, which sits excessive on a hill, was in the course of the eleventh century when Malta was dominated by the Arabs.
Round 900 years in the past the Normans conquered the island, rebuilding the city and repairing the partitions, however by the point the Knights of St John arrived, they determined their capital wanted to be by the coast, settling at Vittoriosa (also called Birgu) earlier than constructing the brand new metropolis at Valletta, which went on to turn out to be the capital and has been for round 450 years.
Mdina itself was broken in an earthquake in 1693, however regardless of extra repairs and renovations, the town has nonetheless saved its medieval construction.
Contained in the fortifications, thereโs a sense that point has stood nonetheless on this Unesco World Heritage web site (particularly if yow will discover a quiet alleyway). All honey-coloured stone, the streets are sometimes too slender even for a horse and carriage, and the one automobiles allowed inside are for residents and emergency autos.
Half the enjoyable is strolling round, taking random streets to see the place it leads you โ Mdina isnโt actually sufficiently big to get badly misplaced, and also youโll stumble throughout all types of tempting locations alongside the best way.
TOP TIP: Go to exterior peak season should you can and arrive early, to keep away from the worst of the crowds in addition to the warmth. The smaller streets can typically be shady however should youโre heading as much as the partitions and wandering throughout the open squares, thereโs virtually no safety from the solar. My final go to in April was excellent โ not too busy and never too sizzling.
What to do in Mdina with youngsters
Predominant Gate of Mdina
Youโll virtually definitely be strolling in by means of the Predominant Gate of Mdina sooner or later, as this is without doubt one of the few entrances into the pedestrianised metropolis, and the one the place buses and most taxis will cease.
One of many filming places utilized in Sport of Thrones because the gate for Kingโs Touchdown, you donโt should have watched the present to understand how dramatic it feels, strolling throughout the bridge to the archway.
Thereโs been a fortified gate right here for hundreds of years, though the present Baroque gate was rebuilt within the 18th century. Look out for the carved lions as you stroll previous.
Youโll additionally discover loads of horses and carriages stopped right here (and elsewhere contained in the partitions) โ itโs not an inexpensive expertise to journey in a single and really touristy, however should you fancy it, youโll have loads of alternative.
For extra issues to do in Malta with youngsters, try my high picks
The Knights of Malta
This attraction, with its introduction to Mdinaโs historical past, is usually a bit kitschy (with occasional glitches with know-how) nevertheless itโs a enjoyable approach for teenagers to study extra in regards to the metropolis.
The Knights of Malta begins with a 3D movie sharing a quick historical past of the Crusades and the way the Knights of St John got here to be in Malta, the siege by the Turks and their centuries in energy earlier than Napoleon Bonaparteโs transient conquest, adopted by British rule.
Then there are a string of scenes with figures exhibiting particulars from the time the knights dominated Malta; every lights up in flip with an audioguide narrating and telling you when to maneuver on to the subsequent tableau.
Some are barely grotesque if in case you have youthful youngsters (and when the lights of every scene switches off, you’re surrounded by darkish areas), whereas among the figures might do with a little bit of a facelift. But it surelyโs one of many extra entertaining methods to get whisked by means of the townโs historical past.
Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here
The Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past
The 18th century Palazzo Vilhena was as soon as house to the Grand Grasp of the Order of St John, Antonio Manoel de Vilhena (who additionally provides his identify to Manoel Island close to Sliema and Gzira).
However at present, as an alternative of highly effective rulers, youโll discover dinosaurs inside the Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past.
Maintain an eye fixed out for the tooth of theย Big White Sharkย (Carcharocles megalodon), in addition to a 4,000-year-old mummified Nile crocodile, fossils and a flying squid which washed ashore within the Nineteen Eighties.
Opened to showcase the islandโs biodiversity, it additionally homes a powerful rock and fossil assortment, in addition to many hen, mammal, fish, and bug specimens from Malta and additional afield.ย
You will get aย 6-day Malta heritage crossย together with entry to the Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past, in addition to limitless use of the hop-on hop-off routes and 19 different heritage sights throughout the island
Head onto the bastions
Sitting on a hilltop excessive above the encompassing countryside, Mdinaโs location was picked for its defensive capabilities โ you would see any enemy coming from miles away.
You may not spot any invading hordes throughout your go to (hopefully!) however the views are implausible, proper out to the ocean, in addition to throughout the fields.
There are a number of totally different locations the place you possibly can climb up. Bastion Sq. is without doubt one of the most important spots, the place itโs simple to get onto the fortifications and look out throughout the countryside.
Or head to the Predominant Gate ramparts, which overlook the moat, and gaze down onto neighbouring Rabat.
Domus Romana
Simply exterior the town partitions, youโll discover a reminder than Mdinaโs historical past stretches again lengthy earlier than the knights who constructed the golden streets and the Arabs who gave it its identify, with the stays of a Roman villa courting again to the first century BCE.
Thereโs a small museum with among the finds, from glass and family objects to a recreated skeleton in a stone sarcophagus.
You will get aย 6-day Malta heritage crossย together with entry to the Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past, in addition to limitless use of the hop-on hop-off routes and 19 different heritage sights throughout the island
However the perfect half is having the ability to see the stays of the villa itself downstairs, with mosaic flooring preserved intact, and boards explaining the totally different designs in addition to the unique format of the home.
Exterior, thereโs additionally the stays of different components of the villa, overgrown by grass and feeling unexpectedly tranquil. Components had been destroyed when the railway was constructed, however thereโs nonetheless loads to seize youngstersโ imaginations, particularly in the event that theyโre studying about Roman life in school.
Older youngsters will even get pleasure from heading into the catacombs which survive in Rabat โ you possibly can go to St Paulโs catacombs which date again to the third century BCE and had been used as secret locations of worship in addition to later as an underground cemetery, in addition to St Agathaโs catacombs.
The co-cathedral of St Paul
The grandest constructing inside Mdina, the cathedral (formally the islandโs co-cathedral together with Vallettaโs co-cathedral of St John) was constructed on the positioning of an historic Roman temple and a later twelfth century Norman church which was destroyed within the earthquake.
Accrding to custom, it stands on the positioning the place Roman governorย Publiusย met St Paul following his shipwreck on Malta. The present cathedral was constructed on the finish of the seventeenth century and early 18th century after the earthquake.
You must purchase a ticket from the little museum subsequent to the cathedral (or you should purchase on-line prematurely), which provides you entry to each the church itself and the collections on show โ look out for the massive 800-year-old bell.
Contained in the cathedral itself, even when your youngsters arenโt often fascinated about visiting church buildings, the ornate ornament is astonishing, together with gilded and painted ceilings and ornamental marble on the ground.
In case your youngsters are fascinated about historical past, you can too go to St Peterโs Church and Monastery, Maltaโs oldest feminine convent the place they promote candy treats made to a centuries-old recipe and the Carmelite Church and Convent, with its ornate Baroque church and an opportunity to see the seventeenth century cloister and among the authentic rooms.
Palazzo Falson
For a glimpse into each day life in Mdina in centuries passed by, Palazzo Falson is the second oldest constructing within the metropolis, a restored thirteenth century townhouse belonging to a member of the the Aristocracy, now restored as a museum.
Residence to artworks by Van Dyck and different seventeenth century artists, some rooms are recreated as they might have been in centuries previous, with interval furnishings and costumes. There are collections of every little thing from cash and jewelry to armour on show with over 3,500 gadgets over 17 rooms
You should purchase tickets with free cancellation right here. Not appropriate for kids beneath six (and realistically, itโs unlikely to curiosity them anyway).
The Mdina Expertise
Just like the Malta Expertise in Valletta, this 30-minute video expertise takes you again over 7,000 years of historical past, with an introduction to Mdina, together with the interval when it was Maltaโs capital.
The Mdina Expertise follows the arrival of the primary recognized inhabitants, the temple builders, to the Phoenicians, Romans, the arrival of Christianity with St Paul, and on to the constructing of the Arab metropolis, conquest by the Normans and the arrival of the Knights of St John.
Thereโs additionally a medieval tavern on web site if you wish to full the historic expertise (together with wraps in addition to conventional Maltese dishes). Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here.
Though the 2 are totally different, thereโs some overlap between the Malta Expertise and the Mdina Expertise so most likely not price doing each
Mdina Dungeons
Very positively not for youthful kids, the Mdina Dungeons museum tells among the story of the historical past of Malta, full with traditionally correct blood, gore, torture, demise and drama.
Billing itself as Maltaโs solely Darkish Stroll attraction, you possibly can anticipate moaning, groaning fashions in addition to lifelike torture gadgets โ plus itโs set within the Inquisitionโs former dungeons so as to add just a few extra real shivers down the backbone.
Permit round 30-60 minutes to wander by means of โ positively a extra uncommon various view of Maltese historical past, relying so long as your youngsters love just a few grotesque scenes moderately than having nightmares for the remainder of the vacation.
The place to eat in Mdina with youngsters
Mdina is thought for its tea gardens, so should youโre hoping to cease for a drink and a cake, youโll be spoiled for alternative.
Should youโre searching for one thing extra substantial, Coogiโs is a good choice. There are two branches in Mdina, together with the tea backyard close to Bastion Sq., with some nice views (positively ebook forward right here).
We headed to the one in Palazzo Constanzo on Triq Il Villegaignon as an alternative, which has a stunning inner courtyard to eat in, plus some implausible pizza on the menu and an ideal choice of muffins too.
Fontanella Tea Backyard is one other widespread spot for its views by the bastion partitions, whereas the Crystal Palace Bar simply exterior Mdina in Rabat is legendary for its pastizzi, that are alleged to be among the greatest in Malta โ select from conventional ricotta or pea fillings.
Convey them again to Il-Foss Tal, the gardens within the former ditch surrounding the town, the place you possibly can picnic on the grass โ the Greek Gate takes you to the doorway, in addition to to the Domus Romana close by.
get to Mdina
Buses run from Valletta to Mdina, taking round half-hour โ use route 51, 52 or 53. Alternatively you may get a taxi โ it prices round 15 Euros with Bolt and took us round 20 minutes travelling again to the Higher Barrakka Gardens.
Alternatively, if in case you have tickets for the hop-on hop-off bus, the northern route runs to the gate of Mdina. Itโs not a quick route, taking round two hours from Sliema, simply over an hour from Valletta Waterfront, travelling through Mosta and Ta Qali (for the Aviation Museum and Artisan Village) earlier than heading north to Buggiba.
This classic bus additionally runs to Mdina a number of occasions a day, for a barely extra thrilling bus various.
You may also ebook guided day excursions of Mdina and Rabat from Valletta, often visiting a number of places across the island. This half-day tour from Sliema and Valletta additionally visits Marsaxlokk and the Dingli Cliffs, whereas this present day tour consists of Mdina together with another highlights of Malta.
Should youโre staying within the north of Malta, this present day tour consists of Mosta, Ta Qali, Mdina and Valletta, with a pick-up at Cirkewwa
Should youโre driving to the town, youโll have to search for parking on the outskirts which may refill shortly in the course of the busiest months so itโs price getting there early.
For extra issues to do in Malta with youngsters, try my high picks
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Palazzo Vilhena/open-top bus courtesy of Depositphotos, all different photographs copyright MummyTravels
LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER