Basilica of Saint Paul, Mdina

The Basilica of Saint Paul in Rabat is a historical and religious treasure deeply intertwined with Malta’s rich past. The church stands on a site that has witnessed centuries of transformation, dating back to the ancient Roman city of Melite, which encompassed present-day Mdina and much of Rabat.

Several churches preceded the current basilica, which was constructed during the 17th century. In 1336, Bishop Hilarius referred to a church on the site as the Church of Saint Paul of the Crypt, acknowledging its existence alongside a cemetery and the remains of a Roman ditch.

The present-day Basilica of Saint Paul was commissioned to replace an earlier church completed in 1578. This ambitious project was made possible largely through the generous contributions of noblewoman Cosmana Navarra. Construction began in 1653 and was completed in 1683.

Adjacent to the basilica stands the smaller Church of Saint Publius, through which visitors can access Saint Paul’s Grotto. This sacred underground space holds particular significance, as tradition maintains that Saint Paul lived and preached here during his three-month stay in Malta following his shipwreck in AD 60.

In 1748, Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca donated a marble statue of Saint Paul to the grotto. Over the centuries, the site has attracted countless pilgrims and several popes, including Pope John Paul II in 1990 and 2001, Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 and Pope Francis during his apostolic journey to Malta in April 2022.