Mysterium Fidei Monastery & Secret Garden In Valletta

This is an opportunity to see how nuns lived in the past. The cloisters are set around a garden which was certainly not green in October. Clearly nuns are still there but I did not see any signs of them. Those who want to experience convent life will enjoy a visit.

I am very perplexed by the reviews for this place, I was so excited from what I had read but this place is nothing like what you read. Firstly the picture that is used to advertise is very misleading it’s an ariel view but what you see is not what you visit, you only get to walk round the ground floor and so you don’t even see the view shown in the advertisement, the secret garden is tiny and nothing special. There were no chickens, or rabbits as stated here, but we did see one turtle. The visit took us 20-30 mins tops, and that was pushing it. For something I was really looking forward to was in my opinion ranked the worst out of my whole 6 day trip. Save your money, visit St John’s Co Cathedral and spend the money going up the bell tower, now that is worth the trip.

Great unexpected travel memory which will stay with us for long - multi sensory experience

A spiritual space with insight into the nuns lives. Really interesting. Well presented. Worth a visit.

A spiritual experience providing insight into a hidden world of piety and devotion beautifully presented

I would definitely recommend this tour! It was a lovely and impressive experience, with plenty of original tools and objects used by the nuns. Also the lady at the reception was very kind.

Very interesting - an oasis of coolness and calm. Look out for the rabbits by the kitchen in cages..

We had a wonderful time visiting the black friars basilica of Saint Dominic. It was absolutely beautiful, and we would like to give a very special thank you to Vincent, who kindly gave us a personal tour. As it was quiet around the church, Vincent was able to spend time with us explaining so much of its history, which was absolutely fascinating. Vincent is a first-year student, and I’m sure he will do remarkably well. He was first class — knowledgeable, friendly and clearly passionate about sharing the history of this wonderful place. Earlier in the day, we had visited St John’s Cathedral, and to be quite honest, we enjoyed this tour far more. It felt much more personal and relaxed, and having Vincent explain the history really brought the experience to life. Included in the entrance fee, we also had the opportunity to visit this monastery, where the nuns used to live. There are now only three nuns remaining, and it was fascinating to see the rooms and learn more about their way of life. It was used as an orphanage where the nuns looked after the children. We also met a lovely lady called Anastasia, who was absolutely delightful to speak to. The gardens were gorgeous and added to the peaceful atmosphere of the whole experience. And don’t forget to look out for the turtle in the fountain! Anastasia told us that he is more than 70 years old — what a wonderful little character! A truly fascinating visit, made even more special by the people we met along the way. Highly recommended.

It’s easy to imagine the austere life the Nuns experienced from visiting the monastery and grounds. Its original purpose was to home orphans which later progressed to families with daughters who were deemed wayward and sent there for redemption. There are only 3 Nuns remaining in 2026 who reside on the upper floor. The eldest is now 95, bed bound and suffering from dementia. The last admittance to the monastery was 60 years ago. The onsite guide advised the future is unknown for the site when the Nuns finally pass away. It may become a museum in entirety, Nuns may be imported from Italy /Spain etc or a totally different purpose. There’s a sense of peace throughout the areas you can enter and the garden although small grew plants & vegetables to sustain the Nuns. They voluntarily isolated themselves from Maltese society in their devotion to God. From several photos of the Nuns, they all seemed content and the majority lived to be in their 80’s and 90’s so maybe it’s evidence that leading a humble lifestyle is beneficial for both physical and spiritual wellbeing. We also visited the Black Friar’s Experience a few minutes week away. The opulence and grandeur of this Dominican Priory with its beautiful frescoes in the dome, statues, chandeliers and suchlike is such a contrast. I highly recommend visiting St Catherine’s Monastery if you’re in Valetta especially as its future is unknown. It’s definitely a hidden gem.

A small place to visit but so interesting, a little gem.

Very nice museum, really gives you a nice insight to life in the monestary. I found the title underground a bit misleading, as there are no tunnels or such that you can visit. The staff is really really friendly and it helps them if you find Patrick, the second cat, who is very shy.

I hadn’t been back to Malta for 10 years since getting married. We visited the convent during the heat of the day and the ambience was peaceful and encouraged reflection. Manuel was a calming host, he told us his story of his sister who is a nun at the convent and we shared the fact my auntie is also a nun in Malta. Manuel also allowed our son to feed the turtles and kittens. Thank you Manuel for your warmth and hospitality. Richard

A cute little museum that hasn't been opened to the public in 400 years! Loved the free audio guide, it was a lovely and different morning experience with no crowds.

What an amazing place, learning about the nuns and their work, the staff, especially Annastasia,were so helpful, gentle & knowledgeable, the gardens Sall but great to find some serentiy & sanctury from the hubub end the walls.

The premises were peaceful and beautiful. The self guided tour was very informative and interesting. I highly recommend visiting the monastery as you learn more about the Augustinian women order and how their life used to look like. Your visit leaves you and it should in deep thoughts.

Such a peaceful sanctuary! Very reasonable price. Excellent staff, especially Anastasia, who was warm, knowledgeable, welcoming and had a similar calm aura to the monastery. Thank you. It would be good to sell items relevant to St Catherine. 🙏🏼

So much more than I expected. I thoroughly enjoyed it so tranquil and peaceful with history I didn’t expect! So interesting and there were cats!! 2 girls on reception were lovely also

A dive into a secret life devoted to God. A must visit in Valletta.

What a unique, serene & holy place. The story of this convent is remarkable. The garden is beautiful. Only 3 elderly nuns still live there. What a welcome dose of peace & quiet!

Absolutely beautiful such a wonderful and special experience see how this order of nuns lived a pious and quiet life for over 400 years here in Valletta. To be able to see the areas they worked prayed and were buried was a truly humbling and special experience. The tour is well laid out and very informative with out being intrusive to their special life. The small courtyard garden a tranquil oasis. Truly worth doing.

This convent @ garden was very interesting. Loved learning about the cloistered nuns that had lived there. We found it while walking around Villetta.

It was truly beautiful and felt like a place that transported you back in time. A wonderful stop during a day exploring Valletta.

A lovely peaceful experience! Staff so polite and helpful! Not very busy at all, it’s like you go back in time! Highly recommended!

A truly wonderful hidden gem in Valletta. The garden is stunning, peaceful and filled with beautiful fragrances that I’ll never forget. I also met the lovely resident cat 😻🐈 and had a nice chat with a very friendly gentleman who works there. A memorable experience and a place I would happily visit again Highly recommend

Very cool look back in time. I also came out feeling very zen

A hidden gem. Wonderfully set out with simple explanations providing a great insight into how the nuns lived all those years ago

Beautiful and peaceful place. I really enjoyed a lot. God bless all the nuns

The staff on duty were very welcoming and showed a great deal of empathy when I told them the reasons for my visit. Namely, that I had lost my sister Catherine to Cancer and so wanted to quietly remember her at The Monastery of Saint Catherine whilst on my visit to Malta. The Secret Garden is truly an Oasis in the midst of the business and buzz of Valetta. If anyone wants a quiet, cool and contemplative space whilst on Malta, St Catherine's is the place to go.

Amazing place, very calm, great experience. Interesting history behind. Good to see the "secret garden" and the rooms where the nums were installed in the past... Well received by the recepcionista. Great place to recover the peace. It is surprising to see such a calm place in the middle of a very active city.

The nunnery was the most beautiful and interesting place. Tranquil. Learning about the lives of the nuns who lived and died there. Very special

An extremely interesting and thoroughly worthwhile experience. The various rooms are laid out well with lots of information on the activities carried out in them and the secret garden is not to be missed. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.

My wife and I visited the Mysterium Fidei Museum in Valletta during a recent holiday, and it was well worth doing. Its a very relaxing and peaceful experience, and it's great how they have managed to bring the place to life. A visit won't last much longer than an hour, but the entrance price reflects this and represents good value. Highly recommended.

This place was creepy. Like- deeply creepy. I would not go back and would not recommend it. The control rooms are so gross- and the fact that this place was a female orphanage while the nuns would do these practices on little girls makes it extra creepy.

It was perfect, the garden with cats.

8 Euros very well spent! My wife and I visited today and loved it. It felt like a wonderful privilege to be allowed a glimpse of life in a closed order - of where and how the nuns, lived and worked. We were also extremely lucky to have met Manuel, who was extraordinarily generous in showing us around and answering our questions. Manuel, we wish you, your sister and the community all the very best and especially all best wishes for a continued life for the community for the future. Noel & Suzy Hanchard

This was a very interesting place to see because you can walk through the rooms that the nuns lived. Also, you can see how they cooked and how they cleaned -how they prayed how they prepared for their faithful duties. I loved the audio option for each space. I especially loved how they had a little cat bed and a bowl of cat food out for a few cats that now reside in the space. The garden was pretty and so interesting to see in the middle of that area!

What a fantastic place to visit! Completely enthralling, this monastery is full of fascinating history and up-to-date information, presented in a user-friendly, well-managed way. All overseen and guided by superb, friendly staff who go out of their way to make sure that your visit is the best that it can be, being available when you need them, but equally leaving you to the peace and charm of this venue, much of which speaks for itself.

Authentic feeling. Very relaxing and informative place.

This was a fascinating visit to the secret garden and monastery. Although we had visited Valletta twice before, we had not been able to visit this place. It is certainly off the usual tourist track and consequently was quiet and peaceful. Highly recommended for an hour.

A hidden experience but well worth seeking out. A fascinating insight into the life of the nuns who lived there. It is well interpreted with an audio guide using your phone. My wife had trouble getting it to work but one of the very helpful staff (sorry, didnt get her name) kindly lent her a phone to use. Three nuns still live ther but sadly when they are gone it will be the end as a living monastery.

Beautiful historic, well maintained building. Interesting history. Price is good for what this tour is. Not busy at all so you can just take you time. The gardens are pretty. It was just a soothing place to take a moment.

An intriguing insight into life behind these closed doors. What an incredible place! As you walk off the street into the building the instant cool calm and quiet is amazing. An easy stroll around the single floor of the monastery guided by the information on the straight forward app download via QR. Well worth a visit particularly on a hot day.

Great little find. It was very close to my hotel so decided to give it a go. Fascinating to see how the monastery runs, and see little bit of history.

This for us was an absolute secret discovery. We have visited Valetta many times and had never known about the gardens. The experience from start to finished was very well laid out and the description boards gave you enough information about what you were about to view next. Ps we never did see the turtle. Well worth a visit next time you are in Valletta

Went during our stay in malta ,lots of information boards about the life of the nuns around the courtyard ,very serene place to visit ,beautiful garden and seen a cat and I had a quiet moment watching the turtle ,a vast differance to the hustle and bustle outside the walls .

This is a really interesting place to visit and if you bring your own headphones there is an audio tour which is good (signs everywhere if not). The only thing I found was that it was a little small for the price but I would still recommended a visit!

A must thing to do. It was so lovely. Meet two lovely people at the desk and we were introduced to a lovely man. So sorry we have forgotten his name. Talked to us with great insight about the monastery. We also seen the monastery cat and seen the turtle. Who were both very cute. Did not want to leave.

It was a lovely evening experience with some thought provoking features which really opens your eyes to what living in a monastery involved. The secret garden is beautiful and smelt delightful from the fresh herbs and flowers! Resident cats and turtles were so adorable too! Such a hidden beauty in Valletta.

Its a nice place to relax in the garden and to learn about the history of the place. Its defintiely worth your time to stop by and give your support!