I by no means go to Malta with out spending at the very least sooner or later within the island’s former capital – generally known as the Silent Metropolis, it’s simple to fill sooner or later in Mdina with children as effectively.
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Nowadays, you’ll discover loads of followers of Sport of Thrones visiting town which was partly filmed right here, together with the primary gate of Mdina, which is most guests’ start line to get into town.
However when you get via the bustle of horses and carts and the crowds which head over the bridge and cluster across the memento outlets by the doorway, it’s simple to discover a quieter nook on this historic metropolis, in addition to various household sights.
Why go to Mdina with children
There’s been a metropolis on this web site since round 700BCE, when it was based by the Phoenicians – 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 through 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 referred to as Birgu) earlier than constructing the brand new metropolis at Valletta, which went on to grow 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, town has nonetheless stored its medieval construction.
Contained in the fortifications, there’s a sense that point has stood nonetheless on this Unesco World Heritage web site (particularly if you’ll find a quiet alleyway). All honey-coloured stone, the streets are sometimes too slim even for a horse and carriage, and the one vehicles allowed inside are for residents and emergency automobiles.
Half the enjoyable is strolling round, taking random streets to see the place it leads you – Mdina isn’t actually sufficiently big to get badly misplaced, and also you’ll stumble throughout all types of tempting locations alongside the way in which.
TOP TIP: Go to outdoors peak season in case 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 in case you’re heading as much as the partitions and wandering throughout the open squares, there’s virtually no safety from the solar. My final go to in April was excellent – not too busy and never too sizzling.
What to do in Mdina with children
Major Gate of Mdina
You’ll virtually actually be strolling in via the Major Gate of Mdina in some unspecified time in the future, 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 King’s Touchdown, you don’t should have watched the present to understand how dramatic it feels, strolling throughout the bridge to the archway.
There’s 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.
You’ll additionally discover loads of horses and carriages stopped right here (and elsewhere contained in the partitions) – it’s not an affordable expertise to trip in a single and really touristy, however in case you fancy it, you’ll have loads of selection.
For extra issues to do in Malta with children, try my high picks
The Knights of Malta
This attraction, with its introduction to Mdina’s historical past, could be a bit kitschy (with occasional glitches with expertise) but it surely’s a enjoyable means for teenagers to study extra in regards to the metropolis.
The Knights of Malta begins with a 3D movie sharing a short 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 Bonaparte’s temporary conquest, adopted by British rule.
Then there are a string of scenes with figures displaying 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 ugly when you have youthful children (and when the lights of every scene switches off, you might be surrounded by darkish areas), whereas a number of the figures may do with a little bit of a facelift. But it surely’s one of many extra entertaining methods to get whisked via town’s 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 residence 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 immediately, as a substitute of highly effective rulers, you’ll discover dinosaurs inside the Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past.
Hold a watch out for the tooth of the Large White Shark (Carcharocles megalodon), in addition to a 4,000-year-old mummified Nile crocodile, fossils and a flying squid which washed ashore within the Eighties.
Opened to showcase the island’s biodiversity, it additionally homes a powerful rock and fossil assortment, in addition to many chicken, mammal, fish, and bug specimens from Malta and additional afield.
You may get a 6-day Malta heritage move 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 encircling countryside, Mdina’s location was picked for its defensive capabilities – you might see any enemy coming from miles away.
You won’t spot any invading hordes throughout your go to (hopefully!) however the views are improbable, 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 important spots, the place it’s simple to get onto the fortifications and look out throughout the countryside.
Or head to the Major Gate ramparts, which overlook the moat, and gaze down onto neighbouring Rabat.
Domus Romana
Simply outdoors town partitions, you’ll discover a reminder than Mdina’s 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 relationship again to the 1st century BCE.
There’s a small museum with a number of the finds, from glass and family objects to a recreated skeleton in a stone sarcophagus.
You may get a 6-day Malta heritage move 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 most effective half is with 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 structure of the home.
Outdoors, there’s additionally the stays of different components of the villa, overgrown by grass and feeling unexpectedly tranquil. Components have been destroyed when the railway was constructed, however there’s nonetheless lots to seize children’ imaginations, particularly in the event that they’re studying about Roman life at college.
Older children can even get pleasure from heading into the catacombs which survive in Rabat – you possibly can go to St Paul’s catacombs which date again to the threerd century BCE and have been used as secret locations of worship in addition to later as an underground cemetery, in addition to St Agatha’s catacombs.
The co-cathedral of St Paul
The grandest constructing inside Mdina, the cathedral (formally the island’s co-cathedral together with Valletta’s co-cathedral of St John) was constructed on the location of an historical Roman temple and a later twelfth century Norman church which was destroyed within the earthquake.
Accrding to custom, it stands on the location the place Roman governor Publius 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 have to purchase a ticket from the little museum subsequent to the cathedral (or you possibly can purchase on-line upfront), which supplies you entry to each the church itself and the collections on show – look out for the large 800-year-old bell.
Contained in the cathedral itself, even when your children aren’t often fascinated by visiting church buildings, the ornate ornament is astonishing, together with gilded and painted ceilings and ornamental marble on the ground.
In case your children are fascinated by historical past, you may as well go to St Peter’s Church and Monastery, Malta’s 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 17th century cloister and a number of 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.
Dwelling 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 buy tickets with free cancellation right here. Not appropriate for youngsters below six (and realistically, it’s unlikely to curiosity them anyway).
The Mdina Expertise
Much 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 Malta’s capital.
The Mdina Expertise follows the arrival of the primary identified 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.
There’s 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, there’s some overlap between the Malta Expertise and the Mdina Expertise so in all probability not price doing each
Mdina Dungeons
Very undoubtedly not for youthful youngsters, the Mdina Dungeons museum tells a number of the story of the historical past of Malta, full with traditionally correct blood, gore, torture, loss of life and drama.
Billing itself as Malta’s solely Darkish Stroll attraction, you possibly can count on moaning, groaning fashions in addition to practical torture gadgets – plus it’s set within the Inquisition’s former dungeons so as to add just a few extra real shivers down the backbone.
Permit round 30-60 minutes to wander via – undoubtedly a extra uncommon various view of Maltese historical past, relying so long as your children love just a few ugly scenes quite than having nightmares for the remainder of the vacation.
The place to eat in Mdina with children
Mdina is thought for its tea gardens, so in case you’re hoping to cease for a drink and a cake, you’ll be spoiled for selection.
In the event you’re searching for one thing extra substantial, Coogi’s is a good possibility. There are two branches in Mdina, together with the tea backyard close to Bastion Sq., with some nice views (undoubtedly guide forward right here).
We headed to the one in Palazzo Constanzo on Triq Il Villegaignon as a substitute, which has a stunning inside courtyard to eat in, plus some improbable pizza on the menu and an ideal collection of desserts too.
Fontanella Tea Backyard is one other standard spot for its views by the bastion partitions, whereas the Crystal Palace Bar simply outdoors Mdina in Rabat is known for its pastizzi, that are presupposed to be a number of the finest in Malta – select from conventional ricotta or pea fillings.
Carry them again to Il-Foss Tal, the gardens within the former ditch surrounding town, the place you possibly can picnic on the grass – the Greek Gate takes you to the doorway, in addition to to the Domus Romana close by.
Find out how to get to Mdina
Buses run from Valletta to Mdina, taking round half-hour – use route 51, 52 or 53. Alternatively you may get a taxi – it prices round 15 Euros with Bolt and took us round 20 minutes travelling again to the Higher Barrakka Gardens.
Alternatively, when you have tickets for the hop-on hop-off bus, the northern route runs to the gate of Mdina. It’s not a quick route, taking round two hours from Sliema, simply over an hour from Valletta Waterfront, travelling by way of 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 instances a day, for a barely extra thrilling bus various.
You may also guide 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 day tour contains Mdina together with another highlights of Malta.
In the event you’re staying within the north of Malta, this day tour contains Mosta, Ta Qali, Mdina and Valletta, with a pick-up at Cirkewwa
In the event you’re driving to town, you’ll have to search for parking on the outskirts which might refill rapidly through the busiest months so it’s price getting there early.
For extra issues to do in Malta with children, try my high picks
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Palazzo Vilhena/open-top bus courtesy of Depositphotos, all different photos copyright MummyTravels