Bastion Square
Mdina.
The most beautiful street in Mdina, Villegaignon Street, leads to charming Bastion Square: a small clearing behind the ramparts of the fortifications at the north-western corner of Mdina. The sun-filled square is backed by handsome baroque buildings. A parapet perched atop the fortifications provides a splendid view of a large part of the island, particularly central Malta and the northern coast
Mdina Dungeons
St Publius Square, Mdina (21450267).
Open 10am-4.3Opm daily. Admission Eur3.73; Children Eur1.86 concessions.
The Mdina Dungeons are located in the former prisons attached to the Magisterial Palace built by the Knights, upon entering the city. The secret underground passageways, chambers and cells have been recreated to portray historic events from Malta's dark and turbulent history. The Dungeons are in fact a museum of torture in Malta over the ages with life-size effigies depicting historical event: 4 the martyrdom of St Agatha, the hackin g of limbs of rebellious slaves and prisoner withering in metal cages suspended in the courtyard. Children might be impressed
Palazzo Falson
Villegaignon Street, Mdina (2145451'4 s www.palazzofalson.com. Open -July-Sept 10am-5pm Tue-Fri); 10am-8pm Sat, Sun Last visit 7pm). Oct-]une 10am-5pm Tue-Sun Last visit 4pm).
Call ahead for group visits Oimited to 20 people). Admission Eur10; Eur5 concessions; free 6-12s with paying adult Under-5s
not admitted.
St Agatha's Catacombs
St Agatha Street, Rabat. Open mid June-Sept 9am-4.30pm Mon-Sat; Oct-mid, June 9am-noon Mon-Fri; 9am-12.30pm. Sat. Guided tours every 3Omins. Admission Eur1.74.
St Agatha's Catacombs are well-planned and more spread out than St Paul's Cata. combs. Only the oldest part of the complex is open; it is set deep underground around a primitive rock-cut chapel. Near the entrance is a crypt with a rock- carved altar and fascinating Byzantine frescoes depicting the Madonna, St Paul, and St Agatha who is said to have hid in the crypt in AD 249 when she fled Roman persecution in Catania.
St Paul's Catacombs
StAgatha Street, Rabat (21454562/ www.heritagemalta.org. Open 9am- 5pm daily. Admission Eur4.66; Eur2.33 students; Eur1.16 children.)
Early Christians were buried in St Paul's catacombs up to the fourth century as it was prohibited by Roman law to hold burials within the city. Gouged underground, these interconnected catacombs are the largest in the area, with an impressive honeycomb of tomb galleries. There is a primitive chapel at the entrance and the passageways branch out in a haphazard manner -the only way to see the intriguing complex is to wander about and double back each time you find a blind end.
St Paul's Grotto
St Paul's Square, Rabat. Open 9am - 5pm daily. Admission free
After his shipwreck in Malta in AD 60, it is alleged that St. Paul slept in this small underground cave during his three months stay, preaching and baptising the Maltese. The grotto has few riches or noteworthy objects: a statue of the saint, a silver model of a galley donated by Pope Paul VI.