Mdina Walls, Malta

Mdina was founded by the Phoenicians, in the 8th century BC, and later occupied by the Romans. The city was defended by walls since the beginning but very few remains from this period have survived.
The present walls started taking shape sometime after the fall of the Western Roman Empire when, for defensive purposes, a retrenchment was built within the city, reducing it to its present size. In 870 the city was conquered by the Arabs, who killed its population and destroyed its fortress, leaving Mdina uninhabited for almost two centuries. The city was resettled in the mid 11th century and the walls were rebuilt. However, these didn't prevent the city from being conquered by Roger I of Sicily in 1230.
During the Middle Ages, the walls were built and rebuilt several times and by the 15th century, most of Mdina's enceinte had a system of double walls which were reinforced out of fear of an Ottoman attack. Despite all the improvements, by the 16th century, the walls were considered obsolete, since they lacked bastions and could not resist bombardment from modern artillery.
The knights Hospitallier took over in 1530 and in the following centuries, most of the medieval walls were dismantled as the defensive system was upgraded. Still, some parts of the medieval walls survived, the most visible being the Greeks Gate and the surrounding curtains.
Mdina walls were still in use in the 19th century, during the British period, when some minor alterations were made, such as the installation of gun emplacements.

 More on the walls:
Mdina's Gates

 Back to Mdina





Local: Mdina Rd, Mdina, Malta

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