Mdina — Silent City

The Silent City

Mdina, known as the "Silent City", sits on a hilltop in central Malta and served as the island's capital from Phoenician times (c. 700 BC) until the Knights of Malta arrived in 1530. Today only about 300 people live behind the medieval walls. Car traffic is banned (except for residents), creating a unique atmosphere of silence and stillness.

An Arab fortress

The present walls and street layout date from the Arab period (870-1091 AD). It was the Arabs who gave the city its name "Medina" (Arabic for city) and separated it with a moat from the suburb of Rabat (Arabic for suburb). The Normans, who conquered Malta in 1091, preserved the Arab structure while adding a cathedral and noble palaces.

Game of Thrones and cinema

Mdina served as a filming location for the first season of "Game of Thrones" — Mdina's gate is the King's Landing Gate through which Ned Stark rides on horseback. The narrow street where Catelyn Stark meets Petyr Baelish is Mesquita Street. The city also appeared in "The Count of Monte Cristo" and the series "The Crown".

Practical tip: Free entry (it is a working town, not a museum). Come early morning or after 5 PM when tour groups leave. Mdina is magical at night, lit by lanterns. Fontanella Tea Garden on the bastion has Malta's best cake and views across half the island.