Palazzo Vilhena
Palace Baroque palace in Mdina housing a natural history museum
Mdina’s Palazzo Vilhena dates to the early 18th century and now houses Malta’s National Museum of Natural History. Visitors tour Baroque rooms, wander Mdina’s narrow streets and take in the bastion viewpoints.
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Palazzo Vilhena is an 18th-century Baroque palace in the fortified city of Mdina, Malta, built in 1726 by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena. It is notable for its formal facade and its prominent position on Mdina’s central square.
The building contains public rooms and exhibition spaces arranged around a central entrance and courtyard, and visitors often see the palace’s interior rooms and the adjacent formal gardens. The gardens and terraces provide clear views over the Mdina ditch and the surrounding countryside.
The palace was commissioned and constructed in 1726 as a residence for the Grand Master; its Baroque design replaced older structures on the site. Over time it has been adapted for civic and cultural uses and today houses a national museum focused on natural history and Maltese heritage.
Mdina sits on a ridge in central Malta; the palace occupies a central position within the walled city immediately beside the cathedral square. Mdina is west of Valletta on the main island of Malta, with the drive between Mdina and Valletta taking around 20-30 minutes by road in normal traffic.
- Date and current use: Built in 1726 for Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena, it is a Baroque palace that now houses a national museum focused on natural history and local heritage.
- Setting: The palace sits on Mdina's main square close to the cathedral, with views over the city's defensive ditch and the surrounding Maltese countryside.
What to See #
- Main palace: The main palace block faces Mdina's central square and contains the principal public rooms and display galleries of the museum housed in the building.
- Vilhena Gardens: A formal, terraced garden adjacent to the palace provides viewpoints over the Mdina ditch and the surrounding countryside and is arranged around walkways, hedges and statues.
How to Get to Palazzo Vilhena #
Palazzo Vilhena is inside the walled city of Mdina (the Silent City). Mdina Gate is the main access point; once you pass the gate the palazzo is a short walk within the narrow streets of the citadel. By car Mdina lies about 12-15 km northwest of Valletta (roughly a 20-30 minute drive depending on traffic). Regular intercity buses run from Valletta and nearby towns to stops at Rabat/Mdina Gate, from which it’s a short walk into the city.
Tips for Visiting Palazzo Vilhena #
- Visit early morning or late afternoon in Mdina to avoid the busiest tour-bus periods and to get softer light on the palace and surrounding bastions.
- The palazzo sits on Mdina's main square, so combine your visit with a slow walk through the adjacent narrow streets - many visitors miss the small garden and the views over the countryside from the city walls.
- Check the current opening times for any museum or displays hosted in the palace before you go; access and exhibit hours can differ from general Mdina opening times.
Best Time to Visit Palazzo Vilhena #
Spring and autumn offer the best balance of pleasant weather and moderate crowds; winter is quiet and mild if you prefer fewer visitors.
Weather & Climate near Palazzo Vilhena #
Palazzo Vilhena's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 9°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (547 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is the coolest month with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 18°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 21°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 22°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 11°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (103 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
