top 11 Mdina Malta Photos

A Glimpse Of Mdina In A Few Photos

Mdina Malta photos shows a glimpse of a few locations. They will inspire you to visit.

The Phoenicians founded Maleth around the 8th century BC. Later the Romans called it Melite.

Mdina a timeless beauty, the old medieval capital city with narrow streets and surrounded with fortifications built originally in the late 13th century.

It used to be known with the Italian name of Citta' Vecchia or Citta' Notable during the time of the Knights of St. John. The Maltese calling it Mdina, a medieval city with narrow streets and surrounded with fortification walls.

The name Mdina is very similar in various languages, Roman occupation (Melita), to ancient Greek (Melitte), Phoenician, Arabic (Madinah)and in Italian (Medina). This shows us that the location was well habitable for a long time due to being at the top of a hill from where one could see most of the island and surrounded with fortifications to withstand a siege.

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When in 1530 the Knights of St. John arrived in Malta, they established themselves in the port area at the Cottonera side since they had come over with their fleet anchored within the Grand harbour. So they had to live there as they had to guard their fleet. Later on the new capital city Valletta was built in 1565, so Mdina became known as the old capital. Today Mdina has 300 inhabitants.

Mdina Malta Photos

stunning narrow street

A typical narrow street called Sqaq Inguanez. Here you find the popular Bacchus Restaurant offering excellent food, service and ambient for the past 35 years.

The Bacchus restaurant at Inguanez Street

panoramic view of mdina malta

The restored Mdina ditch in along the fortifications between Greeks gate and the Main gate, making the area more attractive and shows the beauty of the fortifications. They are now accessible to the public, with lawns and trees permitting the public to walk around. It is a must walk around as one won't regret it.

Related: See How Mdina Is By Night

The fortifications and ditch surrounding the old capital besides the main entrance

the mdina malta gate

It is an Instagram hot spot. This gate was the location for the filming of the Game of Thrones season 1 King's Landing the capital of the Seven Kingdoms.

Charles Francois de Mondion designed the splendid entrance gate in 1724 for the Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena of the Order of St. John, where he re-modelled the entrance gate apart from other buildings.

The main entrance gate also known as Vilhena Gate

the stunning mdina cathedral

The Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul built in 1702 designed in the baroque style by Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa'. Many times he was involved in the designs of important churches on these islands. It was rebuilt after a strong earthquake in Sicily during the year 1693 which made a lot of damage in Malta.

This is the biggest square you find in Mdina just in front of the cathedral. Surrounded by magnificent houses and palaces where once lived Malta's and foreign noble families. Some were descendants of the Norman, Sicilian and Spanish rulers. There are some good photo opportunities not only here but all around the old capital.

St. Paul's Cathedral imposing facade

entrance to mdina malta

Upon entering the main gate there is a souvenir shop and the Mdina glass shop with very popular handmade glass ornaments. Besides them, there is the Torre dello Standards now used as the Tourist Information office. To the right side the Grand Masters Vilhena's palace now housing the National Museum of Natural History and the Mdina Dungeons Museum.

Related: See Photos Of The Seaside Village Of St. Julian's

The area as soon as you enter the Vilhena Gate

narrow and winding street

A typical view of the many visitors taking photos of not only streets and buildings but of small things that they find along which capture the eyes of these photographers.

One of the narrow street attracting the attention of photographers

one of the Gorgeous palaces

Bastion square is just next to the panoramic view over the bastions. Many people pass from here to admire it. It is a square ideal to rest on benches or sit down on the high stone steps parallel to the bastions.

The right side of this small square you find a well know spot where many tourists come to see a great panoramic view of the island. Even for the Maltese it is the place where we love to come and visit regularly. People linger here, you can notice Maltese who come here often to take a breath from the fresh breeze especially during the hot summer months.

Related: There Are Gorgeous Palaces In Valletta

One of several magnificent houses found at Mdina

panoramic view of mdina

In winter the view of Mdina from Ta' Qali crafts village. The fields are at their best because of the rainy season. Mdina stands at the top of the hill from as far back as 1000BC when the Phoenicians built a protective wall.

You can also view Mdina from the main road on your way approaching Rabat. The Cathedral dominates the city's landscape and is visible from far not least the imposing bastions showing incredible views. Through time houses and palaces were built behind the fortifications where windows were opened within the walls to capture the beauty of the view.

A great location to take a memorable photo of the old capital

horse-drawn carriage ride

Many tourists rent and take a ride with a horse-drawn carriage. In Maltese it is Karozzin which in itself is fun but which takes you back in time around the old city. The driver stops at some locations to let you take photos and highlights some main points about the area. Narrow streets and small squares, beautiful and different doorways many pleasant details to observe.

It is a linking square, walking away from the Cathedral to the Carmelite convent and the Normal house. Then from the square you proceed to the popular tea house Fontanella Tea Garden and on to the cathedral square again. Even from beside the Cathedral as shown in this photo you can arrive even quicker.

Il-karozzin, the horse-drawn cab typical of the old transportation of the islands

a charming square in mdina

The square in front of the cathedral on the right side just showing part of the main facade corner, the biggest square where one stops to admire and take photos surrounded by old large houses.

Related: See Other Photos Of The Island Of Malta

A view of the square from the right side of the cathedral

a peaceful square in the heart of the city

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By Albert and Benjamin Magro