Valletta: Mysterium Fidei Monastery & Secret Garden Entry

Summary

Step inside Valletta’s monastery walls for rare quiet & hidden gardens

You’ll step through a quiet door in Valletta and suddenly find yourself in another world: cloisters echoing with history, simple rooms where nuns lived apart from everything, and a sunlit garden full of fruit trees (and one bossy cat). Includes entry and an easy audio tour so you can take your time wandering wherever curiosity leads.

What’s the experience like?

You know that moment when you push open a door you’re not sure you’re supposed to? That’s how it felt stepping into Mysterium Fidei in Valletta. The city outside was all bells and footsteps, but inside, the air changed — cooler, thick with old stone and something like beeswax. I could hear my own shoes on the flagstones, which made me weirdly self-conscious for a second. Our guide handed us these little audio sets and just smiled, like she knew we’d be surprised by what was coming.

I didn’t expect the nuns’ rooms to be so spare — tiny beds, a washbasin, no frills at all. There was a kitchen that still smelled faintly of wood smoke (or maybe that was just my imagination). We peeked into the crypt too, which gave me chills; it’s not every day you see where someone chose to spend their whole life and then rest after. My favorite part though? The secret garden out back. It’s honestly wild how green it is in there compared to Valletta’s stone outside. Chickens scratching around, fruit trees heavy with lemons, Mimi the cat weaving between our feet like she owned the place. She probably does.

There were seven wells dotted around — our guide pointed them out while explaining how rainwater gets collected from the roofs. She told us about self-sufficiency like it was just common sense here, not some eco trend. I tried to picture those women living here for decades without ever leaving the walls. It got quiet for a bit as everyone wandered off in different directions; I sat under an orange tree and just listened to birds for a minute. You don’t get that kind of silence often in Valletta.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Mysterium Fidei Monastery and Garden

• Enter St Catherine’s Monastery
• Visit original kitchens and bedrooms
• See washrooms and crypt
• Walk through the Secret Garden
• Learn about cloistered nuns’ life
• Enjoy peaceful monastery surroundings
• Spot Mimi the monastery cat

Top questions

Where is Mysterium Fidei Monastery located?

Mysterium Fidei is inside St Catherine’s Monastery on St Christopher Street and Strait Street in Valletta.

Is there an audio tour included?

Yes, your entry includes a free audio tour you can use as you explore.

Can children or strollers enter the monastery?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in prams or strollers throughout the visit.

Are service animals allowed at Mysterium Fidei?

Yes, service animals are welcome inside the monastery grounds.

How long has the secret garden been open to visitors?

The secret garden has only recently been opened to the public after over 400 years closed off.

What can I see inside Mysterium Fidei?

You’ll see original kitchens, bedrooms, washrooms, the crypt, and the enclosed monastery garden.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to St Catherine’s Monastery in Valletta.

Is this suitable for all fitness levels?

The experience is suitable for all physical fitness levels; walking is at your own pace.

What’s included

Your visit includes entry to Mysterium Fidei Monastery & Secret Garden right in Valletta plus an easy-to-use audio tour so you can move through each room and garden corner at your own pace—no rush or groups needed.