"Mdina is situated high above terraced fields thus dominating the rural skyline. It attracts large amounts of visitors mostly foreigners (about 80,000 each year). Mdina contributes greatly to the glorious heritage of the Maltese Islands with its original setting of Baroque palaces and churches and so it deserves every degree of protection possible to ensure its survival for the benefit of both future generations and national pride. Mdina is only one of the surviving place names. The city has been renamed according to the various periods in local history. Other names were Melita (Roman occupation), Medina (Arabic occupation), Citta Notabile (Knights of St. John) and Citta Vecchia (after Valletta was built). This city was the home town of the Maltese nobility before the 1565 Siege as well as the capital city of the Islands. Considerable building took place during the reign of Grand Master Vilhena. The urban form it was built upon is the one still standing to the present day. Today it is also referred as the Silent City since it inspires tranquillity at any time of the day or night. The origins of Mdina are attested in ancient texts and identified with Roman Melite. The township of Mdina is a fortified hill-top urban settlement located at the very heart of the Maltese Islands. In existence since the Bronze Age, Mdina has acted for almost two millennia as the administrative and political capital of the Maltese Islands. It is to this day the scat of the Malta episcopacy."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
Postcard 1
Mdina, formerly known as Notabile - Citta Vecchiia, is the old capital of Malta. It is a medieval walled city in the middle of Malta island. Thanks to Julie who was visiting Malta.
Postcard 2
Nice postcard of architecture views of the ancient town of Mdina. Thanks so much to Anne Marie of Mqabba, Malta.
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