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Mdina
Mdina is in Malta.
Travel to Mdina, visa requirements
Buses run from Valletta (30 minutes) and St Julians (45 or longer depending on traffic).
Get around
Only inhabitants are allowed to take cars within the city walls, most streets are too narrow in any case, and it takes less than 10 minutes to walk from one end of the town to the other.
Culture and History
Mdina (pronounced em-dee-nah) means fortified place in Arabic and was first created as such by the Romans when they separated it from the rest of the town which became Rabat (which means Suburb) and fortified it. This place was already the principal settlement of Malta however since Phoenician times and hence can claim a heritage of 3000 years. Up until the Knights arrived in the mid 1500's it was the capital, the Maltese aristocracy lived there (some, like the Inguanez familiy still do uninterrupted for over 6 centuries), and the local governing organ called the Universita was housed there. Up until this day it is the seat of the Maltese bishop and the Mdina cathedral still takes precedence over the co-cathedral of St. John.
As the knights chose Birgu (Vittorosia) as their new capital the Great Siege of 1565 by the Turks was directed there and not at Mdina. The Turkish army passed by Mdina and could have easily taken the crumbling bastion which only had a small group of local soldiers and locals fit to guard it to stop them. A local nun had a vision however that called for a great procession praising god, and so every person in the town was dressed up and paraded around the top of the walls for hours giving the impression to the Turks that Mdina was full to the brim with defenders, and so they left it alone.
This decision proved fateful because just as the Turks had breached the main gate of Birgu a small band of Maltese rode down from Mdina, and started torching the deserted camp of the Turks making them think that they were being attacked from the rear and causing them to retreat in a panic. The breach was fixed and after that reinforcements from Europe finally arrived and the Turks were defeated. There is still a small chapel in Mdina in honour of this nun whose vision changed the course of European history.
Under the knights and even more so under the British the importance of Mdina as the seat of power faded steadily, and what was once known as the 'Citta Notabile' became the 'silent city', almost a ghost town. Today most of the palazzos belonging to the old aristocracy are being restored and the tourists bring life to the place, but there are only 400 inhabitants left.
Mdina attractions and sightseeing
The town itself is a joy to stroll around in, many of the alleys really give the sense that nothing has changed here for more than a millenium since the Arabs were here. The main attractions are the cathedral whose design inspired many of the other churches in Malta, the cathedral museum, and the views.
- Cathedral The cathedral was built after the earthquake of 1693 destroyed the original Norman structure built in the 12th century. Like the Cathedral of St. John in Valletta its floor is covered with intricately inlaid marble gravestones belonging to Maltese aristocracy. Also noteworthy is the impressive wallpainting at the back of the cathedral depicting the shipwrecking of st Paul on Malta.
- Cathedral museum. The quaint cathedral museum houses a variety of different small collections. Perhaps the the most important is a beautiful set of woodcut prints The Life of the Virgin by Albrecht DĂĽrer. Furthermore it has a collection of the cathedral's attributes and a tiny display on the 19th century priests who took the first initiative to develop Maltese in a written form. Amazingly, as it was never in the colonial power's interest and the Maltese had to do without writing in their own language since the Arabs left in the 11th century. The entire archive of the inquisition in Malta, which was only banned by Napoleon the day he invaded, is kept here, but is unfortunately not on public display. If you come with serious credentials you may be able to persuade Father Michael to show them to you.
- The view from the city walls makes it plain why this site was chosen in ancient times, one has a commanding view over most of the island from here.
City tours
Walk around and take randomn turns in the maze-like alleys, the place is so small getting lost won't have you wandering for more than 2 minutes.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
- Bacchus Restaurant, 1, Inguanez Street, Mdina +356 21 45 49 81 Say hello to Charles the Maitre D’. Located in Roman vaults under the front of the citywalls.
Mdina nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
- Fontanella’s Cafe which continues to attract people on its former reputation for quality and currently its wonderful view from its upstairs terrace on top of the city wall. The cakes aren’t what they used to be and the service is indifferent, but the imposing view of half of Malta lying before you makes it more than worthwhile to have a coffee there. Fontanella Tea Garden, 1st Bastion St., Mdina; 21-45-42-64.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
- Xara Palace[1] The only hotel inside the city walls, located in a beautiful 17th century palazzo, it is arguably more exclusive than the Phoenicia making it the most exclusive in Malta, a suite with its own hot tub on the roof with a view over the entire country is ofcourse hard to beat. The Xara Palace, Misrah il-Kunsill, (+356) 21 450560.
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