Mdina, Malta

Mdina, also called the Silent City, is surrounded by fortified walls and sits on top of one of the highest hills of Malta. Built in medieval times, much of its original architecture has been preserved and its narrow alleys tell tales of centuries of history and the various rulers that governed Malta.

There’s a distinct feel you get when walking through these alleys and the views over large parts of the island from on top of the bastion walls are breathtaking and indicative of the area’s strategic importance to its various occupants.

Standing proudly on one of Malta’s highest promontories, the old capital looks like a medieval walled city straight out of a fairy tale. The fortress city, which acted as Malta’s capital city before Valletta was built, once extended to the neighbouring town of Rabat.

Once past the deep moat, nowadays a public garden, and inside the city’s walls, cobbled streets are lined with immaculately preserved noble houses, private chapels, palazzi, and cathedrals. The streets are narrow and winding, and walking along them feels like trying to find your way out of a maze; a feeling which adds to the element of surprise at finding large squares. Silence pervades, and is the perfect complement to a walk on the bastions, as well as taking in the panoramic view of most of Malta and the surrounding sea.

Today Mdina is a major tourist attraction recognised internationally as an important UNESCO heritage site (currently on its tentative list).

History of Mdina

Punic remains have been found in the area around Mdina and suggest that Phoenician settlers inhabited the region around 700 BCE. Historians believe that even they fortified the city they then called Maleth. Mdina’s location was of strategic importance, situated on one of the island’s highest points and relatively far away from the sea.

The Romans also recognized Mdina’s strategic importance and developed the city further, also building the Roman Governer’s palace there.  It was during the Norman conquest of Malta in 1091 AD when Mdina’s outline was shaped as we know it today. Mdina’s thick surrounding fortifications and wide moat were constructed by the Normans and much of the architecture in Mdina dates from medieval times.

Mdina was fortified in medieval times, but its protection in early times must have been its high location on a rocky hill. It is certain that either during the Byzantine or during the Arab occupation of Malta, the fortifications were retracted to the present proportions, perhaps for better defensibility. Although the Arabs were officially expelled from Malta in 1250, the Arab legacy continued. The name ‘Mdina’ survived even though the City’s name had changed several times throughout the centuries, from Maleth by the Phoenicians, Melita by the Romans, Medina by the Arabs, Citta’ Vecchia (the old city) and Cita’ Notabile (the noble city) during medieval times.

A strong earthquake destroyed parts of Mdina in 1693, after which the Knights of Malta rebuilt the cathedral and erected buildings such as Palazzo Falzon and the Magisterial Palace in Baroque style.

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Map of Mdina