MANCAMONDO

Southern
Europe

MALTA

Mdina مدينة

Rabat

Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta.

Malta is a Southern European island country
consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mdina is still confined within its walls, and has a population of 250, but it is contiguous with the
town of Rabat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for suburb, and has a population of over 11,000

Mdina (Maltese: L-Imdina; Ancient Greek: Μελίττη, romanized: Melíttē; Arabic: مدينة, romanized: Madīnah; Italian: Medina),
also known by its Italian-language titles Città Vecchia ("Old City") and Città Notabile ("Notable City"), is a fortified city in
the Northern Region of Malta which served as the island's capital from antiquity to the medieval period.

Mdina Republic of Malta november 2023

The city was founded as Maleth in around the 8th century BC by Phoenician settlers, and was later renamed Melite by the Romans.

Ancient Melite was larger than present-day Mdina, and it was reduced to its present size during the Byzantine or Arab occupation of Malta.

During the latter period, the city adopted its present name, which derives from the Arabic word medina.

The city remained the capital of Malta throughout the Middle Ages, until the arrival of the
Order of St. Johnin 1530, when Birgu became the administrative centre of the island.

Mdina experienced a period of decline over the following centuries, although it saw a revival in the early 18th century.

At this point, it acquired several Baroque features, although it did not lose its medieval character.

The city displays an unusual mix of Norman and Baroque architecture, including several palaces, most of which serve as private homes.

Mdina مدينة Città Notabile, Città Vecchia, Maleth, Melite, Melita, Republic of Malta, november 2023.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Paul (Maltese: Il-Katidral Metropolitan ta' San Pawl), commonly known as St Paul's Cathedral
or the Mdina Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in Mdina, Malta, dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle.

The cathedral was founded in the 12th century, and according to tradition it stands on the site of where Roman governor Publius met St. Paul following his shipwreck on Malta.

Mdina مدينة Città Notabile, Città Vecchia, Maleth, Melite, Melita, Republic of Malta, november 2023.

Villegaignon Street, with the Banca Giuratale visible in the centre.

Mdina remained the centre of the Maltese nobility and religious authorities (and property continues to largely be passed down
from families and from generation to generation), but it never regained its pre-1530 importance,
giving rise to the popular nickname the "Silent City" by both locals and visitors.

Rabat Republic of Malta november 2023

Rabat (Maltese: Ir-Rabat) is a town in the Northern Region of Malta. It adjoins the ancient
capital city of Mdina, and a north-western area formed part of the Roman city of Melite until its medieval retrenchment.

The Basilica of St Paul is a Roman Catholic Parish church located in Rabat, Malta. There were
numerous churches built on the site of the present church which dates from the 17th century.

In 1336 bishop Hilarius refers to the church as ecclesia Sancti Pauli de crypta, and also mentions
the cemetery and the Roman ditch. The present church was built to replace a church which
was completed in 1578. The new church was built with funds provided by the noble
woman Guzmana Navarra on plans prepared by Francesco Buonamici.

Ir-Rabat, Republic of Malta, november 2023.

Rabat is home to the famous Catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha.
These catacombs were used in Roman times to bury the dead as,
according to Roman culture, it was unhygienic to bury the
dead in the city. Mdina and parts of Rabat were built
on top of the ancient Roman city of Melite.