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Mdina, Malta Port Reviews
Mdina, Malta On Your Own Shore Excursion
By Tom Ogg
The Entrance to Mdina, Malta
Ahhh, Mdina. Mdina should be
visited if you have a port day in Valletta, Malta. This
wonderful medieval village perched on top of the highest
mountain in the center of Malta is a jewel to visit. As the
center of Malta's commercial, cultural and social activity
for centuries before the Knights established Valletta as the
new center of activity centuries later, Mdina is a well
preserved look at how life was eons ago. An active village
for over 3,000 years, Mdina is wonderful to explore.
Here is how to visit Mdina on
your own.
The Valletta Bus Station
At the very eastern side of
Valletta on will find the Valletta bus terminal. These buses
are the mainstay for transportation on the island of Malta
and serve the entire island.
Valletta Buses Are Cool
The buses in Valletta are
really cool. They are all from the 1950s and have been
customized by their owner / drivers so that no two are
alike. They are really fun to ride.
A 1950s Bus For Sure
They are not only fun to ride
on, but they operate frequently because of the density of
use.
Bus Number 81
As you look at the mass of
buses in the terminal you will notice that each bus is
sitting by a number. The bus you want is bus number 81.
Simply find the bus number 81 sign and wait for the next bus
to arrive. It won't be long. You can pay the driver when you
board the bus.
The Wall Surrounding Mdina
Note that the bus does not
terminate at Mdina, but keeps going after the drop off spot.
There will undoubtedly be other tourists going to Mdina, as
well, so be sure to get off at the Mdina stop. Once you
leave the bus you will be in an area with some small tourist
shops. You will see a street heading up hill and this is the
street that you should take. Everyone else will walking in
that direction, as well. You will shortly see the entrance
(pictured above).
Inside the Gate at Mdina
Once inside he gate you are
greeted with a fabulous vision of tiles streets,
architecturally beautiful structures and a Mediterranean
feeling of grandeur.
The Main Street in Mdina
The main street of Mdina is
where the shopping is located and leads to the center of the
village.
Mdina Shopping
The shops in Mdina ell all
sorts of things, but primarily local products and
delicacies.
Mdina Glassware
Mdina is also known for its
elegant hand blown glassware. While it is expensive, there
are some wonderful pieces.
Mdina's Narrow Avenues
One can just see people
walking through Mdina's narrow walkways going about their
business.
The Maze of Narrow Streets
While one can become
disoriented walking the narrow streets, they all lead back
to the center of Mdina.
Mdina Cathedral
The Mdina Cathedral is right
in the heart of the village and was built round 1700 to
replace an old Norman cathedral that had been leveled during
an earthquake.
The Interior of the Mdina
Cathedral
The cathedral is stunningly
beautiful inside and well worth a visit.
A Great Place to Eat and
Drink
Walking down one of the
streets off to the left right after leaving the main
entrance to Mdina we saw the above sign and checked out
their menu. We decided to have lunch here after exploring
Mdina and it turned out to be a wonderful choice. They had a
wonderful selection of food and an excellent wine list. We
lingered while it drizzled outside until there was a break
in the rain and we could get back to the bus without getting
soaked. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are
going to have lunch in Mdina. It is great.
Returning to Valletta is as
easy as returning to the corner that you were let off on and
catching the number 81 bus back into Valletta and walking
down the hill and back into the port. Have a great day in
Mdina!
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