Mdina
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| Mdina Il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Imdina Città Notabile The Silent City |
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| — Local council — | |||
| Mdina | |||
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| Motto: Città Notabile | |||
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| Coordinates: 35°53′9″N 14°24′11″E / 35.88583°N 14.40306°ECoordinates: 35°53′9″N 14°24′11″E / 35.88583°N 14.40306°E | |||
| Country |  Malta |
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| Island | Malta | ||
| District | |||
| Borders | Rabat | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Peter Dei Conti Sant Manduca (PN) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 0.9 km2 (0.3 sq mi) | ||
| Population (March 2011) | |||
| • Total | 306 | ||
| • Density | 340/km2 (880/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym | Midjan (m), Midjana (f), Midjani (p) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | MDN | ||
| Dialing code | 356 | ||
| Patron saint | St. Peter and St. Paul; Our Lady of Mount Carmel | ||
| Day of festa | June 29; 4th Sunday of July | ||
Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, (English: Notabile, or Imdina; Phoenician: מֶלִיטָה, Melitta, Ancient greek: Melitte, Μελίττη)[1] 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. Mdina is commonly called the "Silent City" by natives and visitors.[2] The town is still confined within its walls, and has a population of just over three hundred,[3] 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.
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History [edit]
Mdina was inhabited and possibly first fortified by the Phoenicians around 700 BC. The Phoenicians called it Maleth.[4] The region benefits from its strategic location on one of the island's highest points and at maximum distance from the sea. Under the Roman Empire Malta became a Municipium and the Roman Governor built his palace in Mdina. Tradition holds that the Apostle St. Paul resided in the city after his historical shipwreck on the islands.
The name and the layout of the city reflect the Fatimid Period which 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.
Malta passed to the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in 1530 AD. Mdina hosted the public ceremony in which each Grand Master swore an oath to protect the Maltese Islands and the rights of his subjects. A strong earthquake in 1693 led to the introduction of Baroque design within the city scape. The Knights of Malta rebuilt the cathedral, to the designs of Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa. Palazzo Falzon, the Magisterial Palace and major restoration works are other projects undertaken by the Knights. The monumental gateway was designed by the French architect and military engineer Charles François de Mondion in 1724. Also, the entrance found today is not the original one, as the original south gate is about 5 meters to the left.[citation needed]
Composer Francesco Azopardi was born in Mdina.
Present [edit]
Most of Mdina's palaces serve as private homes. The impressive Cathedral of the Conversion of St Paul is fronted by a large square. Only a limited number of resident and emergency vehicles, wedding cars and hearses are allowed within Mdina.
Places of interest [edit]
- St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina^
- Vilhena Palace
- Palazzo Falson (Norman House)
- Palazzo Gatto Murina
- Palazzo Santa Sophia
- St. Agatha's Chapel
- St. Nicholas' Chapel
- Natural History Museum
- Mdina Dungeons
- Carmelite Church & Convent
- Mdina Experience
- Benedictine Monastery
- Bastion Square
Sports [edit]
Founded in 2006, the Mdina Knights are currently enjoying a positive moment in the third division league organised by Malta's football governing body, the Malta Football Association.
Mdina Main Roads [edit]
- Misraħ il-Kunsill Ċittà Notabile (Notabile City Council Square)
- Pjazza San Pawl (St Paul Square)
- Pjazza San Publiju (St Publius Square)
- Pjazza tal-Arċisqof (Archbishop Square)
- Pjazza tas-Sur (Bastion Square)
- Pjazzetta Beata Marija Adeodata Pisani (Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani Square)
- Triq Inguanez (Inguanez Street)
- Triq is-Sur (Bastion Street)
- Triq San Pawl (St Paul Street)
- Triq Santu Rokku (St Roch Street)
- Triq Villegaignon (Villegaignon Street)
Popular culture [edit]
In White Wolf Publishing's World of Darkness, Mdina is the European capital of clan Lasombra.
In the Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series, Mdina is the site of an "ambush" where MI6 intends to retrieve Alex's father John Rider.
In the first season of HBO's Game of Thrones, Mdina was the filming location for the series' fictional capital city of King's Landing. For the second season, Dubrovnik was used instead.
Representation in fiction [edit]
Mdina (together with Birgu and Gozo) plays a significant role in The Disorderly Knights, the third book of the acclaimed Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett, which is set around the events of the Dragut Raid of 1551 when the Ottomans briefly besieged the city.
Photo gallery [edit]
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Defensive walls of the city
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Mdina Gate, the city's main entrance, designed by the French architect Charles François de Mondion in 1724.
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Mdina Gate, the city's main entrance,designed by the French architect Charles François de Mondion in 1724.
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Cathedral's interior
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Palazzo Falzon (Norman House)
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Typical narrow medieval street
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Typical Maltese door in Mdina
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Cannon inscription
References [edit]
- ^ [1]
- ^ Craven, John (2 March 2009). "Celebrity travel: Starry knights and three-pin plugs in Malta". Daily Mail. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
- ^ "Population statistics". Malta Government Gazette. mjha.gov.mt. 9 August 2011.
- ^ History of Mdina
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