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Mdina, Malta. Mdina is the oldest town in Malta. It was fortified by the Phoenicians in about 1000 BC and was the site of the Governor's palace in Roman times. The Arabs named the town Mdina (meaning "Capital") after the island came under their rule in c870. It was the capital city of Malta untill Valletta was built in 1571. The city's cathedral, dedicated to St Paul, was built by Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa between 1697 and 1702.