Rabat, Malta: Catacombs at the Gates of Mdina
Travel guide · editorialRabat sits on a plateau in western Malta, right outside the walls of the old capital, Mdina. A vacation in Rabat takes you into a tangle of lanes, churches, and underground burial complexes that rank among the most important early Christian sites in the Mediterranean.
Suburb of an Ancient Capital
In Roman times, Rabat and Mdina together formed the city of Melite. When the Arabs shrank the city in the Middle Ages and separated it with a ditch, the fortified Mdina emerged, while the remainder became the suburb, known in Arabic as rabat. Until the arrival of the Knights of St. John in 1530, Mdina was Malta's capital; today only a few hundred people live there, while Rabat is a lively town with markets, bakeries, and workshops. Numerous monasteries, including those of the Dominicans, Franciscans, and Augustinians, shape the look of the town. Around Rabat you'll find fields lined with stone walls, vineyards, and small hamlets such as Baħrija, and agriculture still plays a visible role here. On weekends, many Maltese come here to eat, especially at the traditional rabbit restaurants in nearby Mġarr.
Sights in Rabat and Mdina
St. Paul's Grotto beneath the church of the same name is said to have served as the apostle's shelter. Close by are the Catacombs of St. Paul and St. Agatha, sprawling labyrinths of Punic, Roman, and early Christian tombs. The Domus Romana displays the mosaics of a Roman villa. Through the Baroque city gate you enter Mdina, the Silent City, home to St. Paul's Cathedral, palaces in Norman and Baroque styles, and views over the island from the bastions. South of Rabat you'll reach the Dingli Cliffs, the highest on Malta, and the Buskett Gardens, one of the island's few wooded areas.
Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit
Rabat is known for its pastizzerias, and a market takes place on Sundays. Restaurants serve rabbit stuffat and ftira. Buses connect Rabat with Valletta in about half an hour. The best times to visit are spring and fall, when the climate is mild; in summer, the catacombs offer pleasantly cool breaks.