Although not all the streets in Mdina are this narrow, the majority are. Cars are pretty small in Malta but even so, it’s not easy to drive through here.
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Mdina is sometimes call The Silent City because of its thick walls which invite quiet.
Mdina was originally the capital of Malta. It traces its history to a time earlier than when St. Paul was shipwrecked in Malta and was said to have lived there. It is a medieval city with narrow streets, a gate that closes every night and is surrounded by a moat. I will touch up on more information about Mdina in future blogs.
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This is the famous church, in Mosta. Built between 1833 and 1860, it is said to have been inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. During World War II, a bomb fell through the dome but did not explode. The Maltese people thought of this as a miracle. The now harmless bomb rests in the sacristy, always ready for photo opportunities.
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This view of Malta is very different from most of the views you will see when in Malta. This is an area dedicated, it seems, solely for tourists. Once in a while, you might see an older building but mostly, older buildings are being demolished to create high rise condos for the tourist trade. This is not the Malta I remember, living here as a child.
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I was not thrilled when I heard that the beautiful bastions surrounding Valletta were being demolished to make room for a new, modern entrance to the capital. I felt that history was being changed for the sake of modernity. As one can see, the architecture for this new gate is modern, streamlined and nothing like the original. I still prefer history to change in Malta. To me, it doesn’t seem to fit with Valletta’s architecture.
If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my book: Return to Malta available from Amazon.com
If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my book: Return to Malta available from Amazon.com
Walking up and down Valletta, as well as other cities in Malta is quite a chore. Most streets are very hilly. In fact, some of them are actually made up of stairs. (See The Seven Story street, a future blog) As a result, strolling along the side streets is very tiring. Here is a main street that is not so hilly. You will note that as you go down this street, it does seem to slope a bit. Still, it seems the exception to the rule and it is still a bit narrow. In general, prepare yourself, make a lot of stops and don’t rush.
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When you visit Valletta, you must lunch at one of the restaurants in Republic Square. If you’re lucky, a fantastic band will entertain you!
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After passing Fort St. Elmo, one sees Valletta on the right. It is a medieval city with many stone walls and old structures. In this photo, one can see the Upper Barrakka, its many arches shield the loggia from which tourists enjoy the view of the Grand Harbor. This is also the general area where cruise ships dock to let the passengers enjoy the island.
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Fort St. Elmo, a star fort, stands on the peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbor from the Grand Harbor. It protects the approach to the main harbor of Malta. Best known for its roles in both the Great Siege of Malta of 1566 and World War II, it provides the first view of Malta to all shipping and cruising to the island.
If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my book: Return to Malta available from Amazon.com
Anne Visits Malta 