Point of interest
Mdina
in Malta, Malta
The fortified medieval 'Silent City' on a central hilltop, with narrow lanes and sweeping views over the island.
Where it is
Mdina sits on a hilltop in the centre of the main island, about 13 km west of Valletta, immediately adjoining the suburb of Rabat.
Address: Mdina
What it is
The walled "Silent City" is largely car-free, and you wander quiet lanes lined with Norman and Baroque architecture, palaces and St Paul's Cathedral. From its bastions there are sweeping views across the island to the coast.
History
The town dates back over 4,000 years, shaped by the Phoenicians and Romans (as Melite) and given its present name under Arab rule. Mdina was Malta's capital until the Knights of St John arrived in 1530; it then faded in importance and so preserved its medieval character.