Mdina Cathedral Museum
Museum of sacred art in a Baroque former seminary in Mdina, with silver Apostle statues, Dürer prints, a 15th-century polyptych and a Neapolitan crib.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Mdina Cathedral Museum is housed in a Baroque building in Mdina that goes back to the early 1700s. It was built as a seminary under Bishop Paul Alphéran de Bussan, and the octagonal Annunciation Chapel, with paintings by Antoine Favray, marks the spot where the bishop is buried and his heart was interred. Over the centuries the building was transformed, and in 1969 it was inaugurated as a museum.
The collections come from the old medieval cathedral and from gifts by the Maltese community. They include sacred art, manuscripts, vestments, silver, woodwork, coins and religious objects. Among the best-known pieces are the Apostolato, a set of silver statues of the twelve Apostles, St Paul, St John the Baptist and the Virgin made in Rome in the 18th century and saved from being melted down during the French occupation of 1798; the polyptych of St Paul painted in the early 15th century by Luis Borassa of the Catalan school; and the choir stalls of 1490, regarded as the oldest piece of furniture in Malta.
The museum also owns a large collection of prints by Albrecht Dürer, including the Virgin and Child with the Monkey, Baroque paintings such as Mattia Preti’s Mocking of Christ, a wax collection and an 18th-century Neapolitan crib in its own gallery. A combined ticket also gives access to St Paul’s Cathedral next door.
Highlights
- Silver Apostolato statues of the twelve Apostles with St Paul
- St Paul’s Polyptych by Luis Borassa from the early 15th century
- Hall of Albrecht Dürer prints
- Medieval choir stalls of 1490
- Neapolitan crib and Mattia Preti’s Mocking of Christ
Permanent exhibition
- Permanent collections – Galleries of sacred art, silver, manuscripts, vestments, coins and prints, including the Apostolato, the Dürer Hall, the Baroque Gallery, the wax collection and the Neapolitan crib.
- Founded
- 1969
- Operated by
- Metropolitan Chapter of Mdina
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10Senior citizens (60+) and students with a valid student card |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Children under 12 enter free when accompanied by an adult. |
| Seniors | €10Visitors aged 60 and over. |
| Students & apprentices | €10Valid student card required; language-school cards are not accepted. |
The ticket is a combined ticket for the cathedral and the museum; it is not transferable and is valid for 30 days from the day of purchase. Tickets can be bought at the museum or online.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Ramps and lifts give access to most galleries, and staff are available to help. Accessible toilets are provided. Registered service animals are welcome. The museum offers facilitation for visitors with autism, including visual guides and social narratives, quieter visiting times, low-stimulation areas and trained staff; visitors are asked to say in advance what they need.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
|---|
Children under 12 enter free when accompanied by an adult. School groups are welcome with age-appropriate programmes.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Mdina Gate
Many bus routes serve Mdina and Rabat; route 50 runs from Valletta in about 29 minutes, and routes 51, 52, 53, 56, 109, 181, 182, 186, 201 and 202 also stop near Mdina or Rabat. The main stop is just outside Mdina Gate.
By car
Parking available
Cars are not allowed in Mdina apart from residents with permits. Car parks are about 200 metres from Mdina Gate next to the Rabat bus terminus, just outside the gate and under the fortifications, or in Rabat.
Taxis can drop visitors near Mdina Gate; ask for Villegaignon Street at the corner with Mesquita Street. Some streets in Mdina are steep or uneven.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Coat check
The museum has a limited cloakroom service and no café; cafés and restaurants are a short walk away in Mdina.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash is permitted in most galleries; professional equipment, tripods and video set-ups need prior approval from the museum office. |
| Good to know | Individual visitors do not need to book. Guided tours, school visits and large groups should be booked in advance with the museum office. |
