Why Mdina Was Once Malta’s Capital – And What Made It Lose the Title

Mdina’s history stretches back thousands of years. It was originally founded by the Phoenicians around 700 BC. Later, the Romans took over and made Mdina (then known as Melite) the capital of the island.

In the 9th century, the Arabs reduced the size of the city and surrounded it with high stone walls. They also gave it its modern name Mdina, which comes from the Arabic word for “city.”

Thanks to its location on a hill in central Malta, Mdina was easy to defend and gave rulers a clear view of the island

Over time, Mdina became home to Malta’s noble families. With its palaces, churches and narrow streets, it remained the political and cultural centre of the island for centuries.

However, things began to change in the 1500s.

In 1530, the Knights of St John arrived in Malta. Although they first stayed in Birgu, they soon began to plan a new city that could defend the island from attacks by sea.

After the Great Siege of 1565, they built a modern, heavily fortified city on the coast: Valletta. It became the new capital in 1571, thanks to its stronger military position and easy access to the harbour.

Mdina remained important, especially to the nobility, but over time it became quieter and more peaceful, earning its nickname the Silent City.