Mdina på Malta - den tysta staden på kullen

Mdina, also known as the Silent City, was once the capital of Malta. Today, the small town attracts tourists who are impressed by its sturdy walls, huge city gate, grand buildings and narrow medieval alleys.

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Mdina - the silent city

Mdina, or the silent city, is located on a hill that is the highest point on the island. This location was once thought to be strategic for the defence of a capital city. Later on, it was considered inappropriate to have a capital without a harbour, and Mdina lost its role as a capital.

Mdina is located almost in the centre of the island of Malta, 1.4 miles west of the current capital Valletta. The town has less than 300 inhabitants and apart from the occasional car delivering goods, there is hardly any traffic at all. Coming here is like travelling to a time long before cars and exhaust fumes.

Mdina, on the other hand, is more or less intertwined with the city of Rabat, which is outside the city walls and home to around 11,000 people.

Mdina's dramatic story

Mdina, like all of Malta, has had a dramatic history. The city was fortified by the Phoenicians in the 11th century BC and named Maleth. Then the Roman Empire took over, followed by the Byzantine Empire. In 870, the city was besieged by Arabs and destroyed.

When the city was rebuilt, it was as a Muslim settlement, then named Medina. But the Arabs were also attacked and in 1091 the city was included in the Kingdom of Sicily.

In the 16th century, the Order of St John took over the governance of Malta. They disliked the mountainous location far from the sea, so they moved the capital to Birgu (present-day Vittoriosa) which is just next to Valletta. In 1530, Mdina lost its role as the capital of Malta.

Mdina Gate

The first thing you see when you arrive in Mdina is the Mdina Gate. Built in the Baroque style in 1724, right next to an older version, the gate offers a grandiose welcome. As you pass through it, you realise that this is not just any city you are about to visit.

Today, the gate is also known from the immensely popular TV series Game of Thrones. It is apparently in season 1, episode 3, that Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrick Cassel can be seen riding through the gate into the fictional capital of King's Landing.

And yet another Game of Thrones filming location.

If you're a Game of Thrones fan, you'll find another interesting spot in Mdina. Mesquita Square, located in the heart of the city, is the location of Littlefinger's brothel in the series.

St Paul's Cathedral

A sight not to be missed in Mdina is St Paul's Cathedral, or Mdina Cathedral as it is sometimes called. This Catholic cathedral is dedicated to the Apostle Paul, who incidentally was shipwrecked in Malta in 60.

The cathedral was founded in the 12th century on the site where legend has it that St Paul met the Roman governor Publius after the shipwreck. The original cathedral was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1693, and it was subsequently rebuilt in the Baroque style between 1696 and 1705.

More to see and do in Mdina

Walking around the medieval alleys of Mdina is an experience in itself, but if you want to learn even more about the history, there are various museums to visit. For example, you can visit the Cathedral Museum, the Mdina Dungeons or the Knights of Malta. Another way to get a little more history is of course to take a guided tour. The photo shows Clive from the company Malta Private Guidewho guided us when we were in Mdina in 2016.

In Rabat, close to Mdina, you can visit St Paul's Church and St Paul's Grotto, the cave where the Apostle Paul is believed to have been found after being shipwrecked. In Rabat, you can also visit the catacombs, which served as underground burial sites.

Malta Classic Grand Prix

When we visited Mdina in 2016, we were fortunate enough to experience Malta Classic Grand Prix. What an experience! We got to see amazing cars, many in "vintage style" lined up against the medieval walls of Mdina. In addition, we could watch the cars as they competed against each other in various races.

See more in the neighbourhood

When you visit Mdina, you'll want to take the opportunity to see more of Malta. Seeing the capital city of Valletta is a must. We can also recommend visits to the charming Marsaxlokk and the exciting prehistoric temple of Hagar Qim. Not far from Mdina you'll also find the cosy little village of Dingli, where you can enjoy dramatic views, fantastic food... and why not take a segway ride?

READ MORE: 5 things to see and do in Valletta
READ MORE: Marsaxlokk in Malta - a picturesque fishing village
READ MORE: The mysteries of Hagar Qim in Malta
READ MORE: Segway in Malta - around beautiful Dingli
READ MORE: Attractions in Malta - 7 hot tips
READ MORE: What to do in Malta - 25 sights and experiences

Have you visited Mdina in Malta?

Have you visited Malta's former capital Mdina, the Silent City? How was your experience?

Facts about Mdina

Country: Malta
Population: Under 300 (but over 11,000 live in the city of Rabat, just outside)
Name: Mdina or 'Silent City'. Previous names have been Maleth and Melite.

Getting to Mdina

Car: The drive from Valletta is approximately 1.4 miles. Allow just under half an hour to drive.
Bus: You can check bus routes at Malta Public Transports.

Mdina's story

Prehistoric times: The site on the mountain was inhabited early, as it could be protected from intruders.
11th century BC: The city was fortified by the Phoenicians and named Maleth.
218 BC: The Roman Empire took over the city, now called Melite. The city was at this time three times the size of today's Mdina.

The Middle Ages

The fall of the Western Roman Empire: When the Western Roman Empire fell, the city was reduced in size to make it easier to defend. The city came to be ruled by the Byzantine Empire.
870: The city was besieged by Arabs and fell to the invaders. The inhabitants were killed, the city was destroyed and the churches were looted.
1048/1049: The place was populated by Muslims and their slaves. They built a city called Medina.
1054/1054: The Byzantine Empire besieged Medina, but the siege failed.
1091: The city was besieged by Roger I of Sicily, and the inhabitants surrendered peacefully. Malta was now included in the Kingdom of Sicily.
1429: The city withstood a siege by Muslims.

Governance of the Order of St John

1530: When the Order of St John was awarded Malta by Spain, they found Mdina to be poorly located, up in the mountains and without a harbour. They changed the capital to Birgu (Vittoriosa).
1551: The city withstood an Ottoman attack.
1565: During the Great Siege of Malta, Mdina was a base for the cavalry of the Order of St John. The Ottomans tried to take Mdina in September, but gave up when the city fired its cannon, leading them to believe the city had ammunition.
1693: The city was hit hard by an earthquake and the cathedral was partially destroyed. It was restored in baroque style in 1697-1703.
1772: Grand Master Antonio Monel de Vilhena ordered the renovation and restoration of the city. Several large buildings were constructed including the Despuig Bastion.

French occupation and British rule

1798: Malta and the city of Mdina were occupied by French forces. A Maltese uprising took place, followed by a two-year period of rebellion and blockades.
1800: The French gave up and Malta became a British protectorate.
1964: Malta became an independent state but remained part of the British Commonwealth.

4 Comments

Add yours →

Ann says:

The whole city looks like a fairy tale 😀.

Love the fact boxes you add at the end of your posts, thumbs up!

21 January 2021 - 9:19

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Truly a fairytale city! And glad to hear that you like the fact boxes! 🙂
  
  22 January 2021 - 6:46
  
BP says:

Yes, we have visited Mdina as I wrote before. We came in through a gate, but not out through the same one. We got lost in this labyrinth of a city. But since the sun never reached us, it was at least pretty cool there among the high walls/houses).

21 January 2021 - 21:32

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Maybe lucky we had a guide, so we didn't get lost in the alleys 😉 It's a cool and charming city!
  
  22 January 2021 - 6:47

Mdina, Malta - the quiet city on the hill

Mdina - the silent city

Mdina's dramatic story

Mdina Gate

And yet another Game of Thrones filming location.

St Paul's Cathedral

More to see and do in Mdina

Malta Classic Grand Prix

See more in the neighbourhood

Have you visited Mdina in Malta?

Facts about Mdina

Getting to Mdina

Mdina's story

The Middle Ages

Governance of the Order of St John

French occupation and British rule

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4 Comments

Ann says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

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