From the walls surrounding Mdina, you can get a good idea of it’s defensive position. Legend says that during the 1565 Siege of Malta, the Ottoman Vizier sent a smaller force to Mdina, assuming it would be easy to take, as most of the Knights Hospitallers were busy defending their new capital city. But the knight in charge of Mdina came up with a brilliant plan: he dressed the women and servants in armor and had them stand atop the walls, set off the cannons, and bang their swords against their shields in a noisy show of force that convinced the Turks to retreat.