Mdina, Fortified medieval city in Western Region, Malta
Mdina stands on a hill at 200 meters elevation, surrounded by limestone walls and featuring narrow streets lined with Norman and Baroque buildings.
The city functioned as Malta's capital from ancient Phoenician times until 1530, when the Knights of St. John relocated their administrative center to Valletta.
St. Paul's Cathedral dominates the main square, displaying architectural elements from the 17th century and housing a museum of religious artifacts and Roman antiquities.
The city restricts vehicle access to residents only, with designated parking areas and regular bus connections available from major Maltese destinations.
The current population within the city walls numbers only 250 inhabitants, maintaining the same medieval street layout across its 0.9 square kilometers.
Location: Western Region (Punent)
Elevation above the sea: 200 m
Address: Mdina, Malta MDN Mdina
GPS coordinates: 35.88583,14.40306
Latest update: September 16, 2025 13:46
Malta combines thousands of years of history with varied coastal landscapes across a compact island area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers). The capital Valletta contains major structures including the Co-Cathedral of St. John with its Caravaggio paintings, the National Museum of Archaeology, and the 18th-century Manoel Theatre. The city displays baroque architecture and military installations from the Knights of Malta period. The Neolithic temple complexes rank among the world's oldest freestanding stone structures. Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra near Qrendi date from around 3600 to 3200 BC, while the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are even older. The Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola is an underground necropolis with multiple chambers. The Tarxien temples show decorated stone blocks and reliefs. The coastline offers different formations: the Dingli Cliffs reach 830 feet (253 meters) in height, while the Blue Grotto near Qrendi features sea caves with turquoise water. The Blue Lagoon on Comino has shallow, clear water. Golden Bay near Mellieħa is a sandy beach. Fort Rinella in Kalkara preserves an 1884 Armstrong gun. The medieval town of Mdina and the Citadel in Victoria on Gozo display fortress architecture from different periods.
Temple of Apollo
61 m
St. Paul's Cathedral
101 m
Mdina Gate
129 m
Palazzo Falson
130 m
Palazzo Vilhena
137 m
Palazzo Santa Sofia
68 m
Greek's Gate
136 m
Torre dello Standardo
101 m
Annunciation Church
99 m
St Peter's Church and Monastery, Mdina
59 m
Mdina Cathedral Museum
110 m
Banca Giuratale (Mdina)
41 m
St Agatha's chapel, Mdina
75 m
Narodowe Muzeum Historii Naturalnej
135 m
Corte Capitanale
139 m
St Roque's Church, Mdina
81 m
Palazzo Costanzo
115 m
Archbishop's Palace, Mdina
116 m
Church of St Nicholas
73 m
Church of St Peter in Chains
100 m
Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum
130 m
Mdina
29 m
Mdina Main Gate
127 m
Statue of the Madonna of Mount Carmel
85 m
Inner Greek's Gate
122 m
De Redin Bastion - Mdina
116 m
Palazzo Santa Sofia
63 m
Casa Mdina
138 mReviews
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