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View of Mdina from the countryside below.

Mdina (also called L-Imdina or Città Notabile) is the old capital of Malta. It is a medieval town, with narrow quiet streets, situated in the centre of the island. It is also known as the "Silent City". It commands a magnificent view of the Island.

Evidence for settlement in Mdina goes back to over 4000 BCE. It was first fortified by the Phoenicians around 700 BC, probably because of its strategic location on one of the highest points on the island and as far from the sea as possible. When Malta came under control of the Roman Empire, the Roman Governor built his palace there. It was here in 60 CE that the Apostle St Paul is said to have lived after being shipwrecked on the Islands. The city earned its present day name from the Saracens who came to Malta around 870 CE. They surrounded the city with thick defensive walls and a wide moat, separating it from its nearest town, Rabat.

The Normans conquered Malta in 1091. A strong earthquake in 1693 destroyed a large number of buildings in Mdina. After the earthquake the Cathedral was rebuilt on the designs of the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa.

Today, no cars (other than those of a limited number of residents, emergency vehicles, wedding cars and hearses) are allowed in Mdina and there is a calming atmosphere as one walks along its narrow streets and ways. The city displays an unusual mix of Norman and Baroque architecture, including several palaces, most of which serve as private homes. The Cathedral is worth visiting and is fronted by a large square.

• Cathedral of St. Paul
• Vilhena Palace
• Palazzo Falzon (Norman House)
• St. Agatha's Chapel
• St. Nicholas' Chapel
• Natural History Museum
• Mdina Dungeons
• Carmelite Church & Convent
• Mdina Experience
• Benedictine Monastery

Defensive walls of the city	View of Mdina from neighbouring town Rabat	Mdina Gate, the city's main entrance	Mdina Gate, the city's main entrance
The Cathedral of St. Paul in the centre of Mdina	Palazzo Falzon (Norman House)	Typical narrow medieval street	Typical Maltese door in Mdina
Canon inscription

edit	Local Councils of Malta
Malta Island
Attard | Balzan | Birgu (Vittoriosa) | Birkirkara | Birżebbuġa | Bormla (Cospicua) | Dingli | Fgura | Floriana | Għargħur | Għaxaq | Gudja | Gżira | Ħamrun | Iklin | Isla (Senglea, Città Invicta) | Kalkara | Kirkop | Lija | Luqa | Marsa | Marsaskala (Wied il-Għajn) | Marsaxlokk | Mdina (Città Notabile) | Mellieħa | Mġarr | Mosta | Mqabba | Msida | Mtarfa | Naxxar | Paola (Raħal Ġdid) | Pembroke | Pietà | Qormi (Città Pinto) | Qrendi | Rabat | Safi | San Ġiljan (St. Julian's) | San Ġwann | San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay) | Santa Luċija | Santa Venera | Siġġiewi (Città Ferdinand) | Sliema | Swieqi | Tarxien | Ta' Xbiex | Valletta | Xgħajra | Żabbar (Città Hompesch) | Żebbuġ (Città Rohan) | Żejtun (Città Beland) | Żurrieq
Gozo Island
Fontana | Għajnsielem | Għarb | Għasri | Kerċem | Munxar | Nadur | Qala | Rabat (Victoria) | San Lawrenz | Sannat | Xagħra | Xewkija | Żebbuġ

Coordinates: 35°53′9″N, 14°24′11″E