By arriving in Malta after dark, we hadn’t seen any of the countryside, so took a bus trip to explore. Driving through the outskirts of Valletta, it was obvious any investment in the city hadn’t made it this far as buildings looked far shabbier in this part of town. There was a band of green cultivated countryside but soon we were on the outskirts of Rabat which sits right beside the walls of Mdina, which was the old capital of Malta before the Knights of St John arrived and established themselves in Valletta. The exodus of people from Mdina at that time gave it the nickname The Silent City.
We entered down a tunnel …
… and through Greek’s Gate
… then wandered the narrow cobbled streets …
… found Mesquita Square …
… and looked out over the fortifications back towards Valletta.
St Paul’s Cathedral echoes the cathedral in Valletta with a similar marble floor and vault painted with scenes from the life of the Saint, but instead of gilding on the walls, these are swathed in rich red brocade.
I particularly liked this tombstone …
Finally we passed Vilhena Palace …
… before leaving through the Mdina Gate.
If any of the views look familiar, you might have seen them in the first season of Game of Thrones which was filmed here and Catelyn Stark and Rodrik Cassel, ride into Kings Landing through this very entrance!
Off Travelling Together 