From this terrace at Mdina's northern tip you look across the fields and villages of central Malta to the sea, the width of the island in one view.
Viewpoint, Mdina. Meridian Dispatch.
Yes. Visitor guides list the square and its viewpoints as free and open at all hours. The cafes and restaurants on and around the square keep their own separate hours.
Buses 50, 51, 52, 53 and 56 run from Valletta Terminal to Rabat, just outside the walls of Mdina. Frequent buses also run to Rabat from Sliema, St Julian's and Bugibba.
Yes. The dome of the Rotunda church in Mosta is one of the clearest landmarks in the view from the belvedere, standing out on the horizon beyond the patchwork of farmland and towns.
Bastion Square, Pjazza tas-Sur in Maltese, sits on top of the city walls at the edge of Mdina. Cafe tables and flowering plants now fill a square that began as part of the city's defences.
Stone balustrades line the edge. Lean on them and Rabat spreads out in front of you, with patchwork fields and scattered villages beyond it.
The big dome on the horizon is the Rotunda of Mosta. The small town of Mtarfa is also in sight, and further out the view runs to Valletta and Sliema on the coast.
The light over the countryside changes from morning to evening, so the same view looks different on a second visit. It is one of the best places in Mdina for photography, whether of the panorama or of the square itself.
Mdina Gate opens onto the main street, which leads towards the centre of the walled city. Signs then point you on to the bastions. It is only a few minutes' walk.
Walk out to the balustrade first for the view over the countryside. If you want to stay longer, take a table at one of the cafes on the square.
Narrow lanes lead from the square back into the rest of the city. Villegaignon Street takes you to the cathedral square.
Leave time after the view for the quiet side streets close to the square, rather than walking straight back to the gate.
If you come by car, the car parks just outside the city can fill at busy times. Taking the bus to Rabat saves the search for a space, and the stop is a short walk from the gate.
Give your afternoon to St Paul's Cathedral and the rooms of Palazzo Falson, then walk to Bastion Square on the city walls and watch the sun set over the countryside and the coast.
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