Mdina
Mdina is an ancient fortified city in the heart of Malta with endless high walls of soft cream. From the outskirts of Valletta, Mdina is but a speck in the middle of the inland horizon. To experience the infamously reliable and extensive Malta transport system, I took a local bus to Mdina. As the bus winds its way through the city streets collecting and depositing locals and the odd tourist alike, the suburbs merge seamlessly into industrial areas, edging closer to the open farmland plains and the tiny hint of Mdina in the distance. Alighting from the bus at the Rabat interchange about an hour after leaving St Juliens, the gate entrance to Mdina is only a short 5-minute walk away. Leading up to the gate you witness the high imposing and seemingly impenetrable fortress walls.
Views from Mdina
The luxury of forgoing a formal tour group is you can wander about the streets alone, turning this way and that, becoming lost in the backstreets as you chase after the silence from the noisy chatter of tourist crowds. It’s quieter there in the side streets. A chance to see things that others may miss in a large crowd. Like a cat resting high up in a window frame, feigning indifference at the odd one or two people passing by the otherwise empty courtyard. In the silence, you can absorb the wonderful medieval architecture and imagine what life was like all those centuries ago. The religious icons mounted in the walls, the ancient wooden doors, the ornate iron balconies, the quaint street signs. Turning another corner several cats congregate under the peaceful shade of courtyard trees eating their midday meal. Life in Mdina seems tranquil and normal for a brief moment.
To appreciate how high the city stands above the farms below, the Fontanella Tea Garden cafe on the edge of the walled city provides tourists with sweeping views of the countryside that stretch on forever towards to the sea. As with most tourist sites, there are souvenir shops dotted along the streets, however, as you are in the location of the famous Mdina Glass, a visit to their shop in Mdina or nearby premises at the Ta’ Qali Craft Centre is a must if you are looking for unique gifts and souvenirs. The glass is absolutely exquisite. I ended up purchasing several candle holders and tumblers from one of their stores in Valletta and wished I could have carried many more gifts home. Even if Malta isn’t on your destination list but you love handcrafted artisan glass, I recommend a visit to the online Mdina Glass store (https://www.mdinaglass.com.mt).
Magical Malta
If you only visit Malta only once in your lifetime, I suggest you plan enough time to visit all the cultural sights Malta has to offer. Especially if you want to include lazy days relaxing by the sea. During my 5 days on Malta, I only scratched a millimetre below the surface of this cultural and historic wonderland. I left with a perfectly good excuse for a return visit to explore more of this magical place called Malta. On top of my next sightseeing list is a boat ride to the sister isles of Gozo and Comino, exploring the famed backstreets of Vittoriosa, and a visit to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum* & Tarxien Temples. This tiny archipelago truly has something for everyone: national museums and cultural sites, stunning architecture, spectacular coastal scenery, blue lagoons, crystal clear water, water sports, nightlife, restaurants, shopping and more. Planning a summer trip to Malta is the perfect cure for any summer holiday blues.
*The Heritage Malta website (http://heritagemalta.org) advises that pre-booking tickets to visit Hypogeum is essential as most tickets sell out weeks, even months in advance.
