Madliena is a site in Swieqi, Malta, although as from March 2010 the village will have its own administrative council within the Swieqi Local Council. The name is a reference to Mary Magdalene. Traditionally Madliena forms part of Għargħur, however in the 1990s the Central Government decided that it should form part of the new Swieqi locality.
The name Madliena derives from the chapel dedicated to Mary Magdelene. Previously, the area was known as Samudi or Bjar Samut. It appeared in Dejma (local militia) lists in conjunction with Għargħur (Gregori et Samudi).
There is no tangibile evidence that Mary Magdelene was ever shipwrecked on Malta before arriving in France (as is sometimes believed). However, there is evidence that a strong cult devoted to Magdelene existed, and Madliena did have a church/chapel dedicated to Mary Magdelene. Some historians record that this Chapel was used during World war II to store paintings and silverware from St John's Co-Cathedral and other precious collections and the whole Chapel was covered with sand-bags for security. Soldiers and Sailors would pay their respects to the Magdelene every time they saw the Chapel of Madliena on land and from the seas. The original Chapel, which had already been built in 1490, was demolished in 1880 to make way for the building of a fortress by the British authorities. The present chapel was built some time after 1880. Until August 1998, this chapel formed part of the Għargħur parish, however due to circumstances within the Għargħur parish, service started being done by the Ibraġġ Church, which had also previously formed part of the Għargħur parish.[1]
Madliena is also home to the famous Madliena tower, which served as a beacon, used mostly by the Knights of Saint John.
Currently Madliena, situated at high elevation, is replete with villas and terraced houses.
From a sporting perspective, Madliena are represented by Swieqi United FC in the Maltese 3rd Division.