
14/07/2023
Mdina
Mdina is a fortified city in the Northern Region. It was Malta’s capital all through the Middle Ages until the Order of St. John declared Birgu the administrative center. Today, it’s still a walled city, and home to fewer than 300 people (the adjacent town of Rabat houses a further 11,000 outside the city walls).
Established as Maleth in the 8th-century BC by Phoenicians, the city was then renamed Melite by the Romans. When it was occupied by the Byzantines, the city shrunk to its current size yet still maintains plenty of its medieval charm. There are some impressive displays of Baroque and Norman architecture, as well as palaces now serving as private residences.
Today, Mdina is one of Malta’s most popular hotspots, attracting 750,000 tourists every year. Interestingly, the city doesn’t allow any cars other than ambulances or those belonging to residents – one of the reasons for its nickname as the ‘Silent City.’ Take your time exploring the city walls, the Roman Catholic St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the French Baroque Palazzo Vilhena.