Mdina — The Silent City Where Time Stopped

Mdina is the "Silent City." And that is not a marketing slogan — it genuinely is quiet. Cars are banned (except for a handful of residents with palaces), and signs on the gates ask visitors to keep their voices down. Fewer than 300 people live here.

This was once the capital of Malta. When the Knights arrived and chose a harbour location (Birgu, then Valletta), the Maltese aristocracy stayed in Mdina, offended by the new rulers. And there they remained for centuries. The island's oldest noble families still live here today.

A Walk Through the Ages

Mdina looks like a living film set. Narrow winding alleys (designed deliberately so that arrows could not travel far — seriously), stone walls the colour of pale honey, ornate doorways on every townhouse. Silence has a flavour here.

Must-See

• Metropolitan Cathedral: Smaller and calmer than the Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Beautiful Baroque interior, graveyard behind the church with old tombstones. Free entry.
• Natural History Museum of Malta: Housed in a beautiful palace. Surprisingly interesting — particularly the section on the island's geological history.
• Fontanella Tea Garden: A cafe on the old city walls. Views over the countryside, the sea, and half of Malta. Coffee and chocolate cake on 17th-century ramparts — one of the island's finest spots.

The Gate to Westeros

Game of Thrones fans — recognise it? Mdina's main gate was the gate to King's Landing in the first season. This is where Catelyn Stark rode into the city. You can take your photo — but please don't block the entrance for thirty minutes.

Rabat: Just Beyond the Walls

Directly outside Mdina's gate lies Rabat — a normal living town full of shops, cafes and pastizzerie. The best pastizzi on the island are at Crystal Palace (Serkin), open almost around the clock. St. Paul's Catacombs are also here — worth a visit.