Citta Vecchia Mdina
The Silent City
M
dina, Città Vecchia, or
Città Notabile, is the
old capital of Malta.
Mdina is a medieval
walled town situated
on a hill in the centre
of the island. Punic remains uncovered
beyond the city’s walls suggest the
importance of the general region to
Malta’s Phoenician settlers.
began in 870 AD and lasted until the
Norman conquest of Malta in 1091
AD. The earliest surviving buildings
date from the Norman period. The
Normans surrounded the city with
thick defensive fortifications and
widened the moat. The city was also
separated from its nearest town,
Rabat.
Mdina is commonly called the "Silent
City" by natives and visitors. The town
is still confined within its walls, and
has a population of just over three
hundred but it is contiguous with the
village of Rabat, which takes its name
from the Arabic word for suburb, and
has a population of over 11,000.
Mdina’s highlights include:
St Paul's Cathedral & Museum, noting
the present one was built following
the 1693 Mdina earthquake!
The name and the layout of the
city reflect the Fatimid Period which
62
The Mdina Experience – an audiovisual presentation on the city’s
history, shown in a medieval building
and brings together 3000 years of
history!
Mdina Dungeons – secret underground
chambers, cells and passageways
bringing together the darker side of
history from Roman times, through
to the Arabs, to the Knights and
Napoleon era!
The Knights of Malta – who ruled
Malta from 1530 to 1798 is a series
of tableaux’s with an audio visual
show explaining the foundation of the
Order, through to expulsion in 1798!
Vilhena Palace – located y the Tourist
Information Office as you enter the
city, now houses the Natural History
Museum.
Then there is Pjazza Tas-Sur (Bastion
Square) - where you can see
impressive views of Malta in front of
you!