St Paul's Catacombs — Rabat

What are St Paul's Catacombs?

St Paul's Catacombs are an extensive network of interconnected underground burial galleries carved out of the rock beneath Rabat. They form part of a larger cemetery zone that lay, as Roman custom required, outside the walls of the ancient city of Melite (modern Mdina). The site is managed by Heritage Malta and can be explored along lit pathways.

Where are St Paul's Catacombs?

The catacombs lie in Rabat, just outside Mdina, near the church of St Paul and the associated grotto. Several other catacomb complexes, including St Agatha's, are found nearby.

History of St Paul's Catacombs

The catacombs developed from around the 4th century AD, during the late-Roman and Byzantine periods, as the principal burial ground of the region. They contain tombs of different types reflecting the mixed Christian, pagan and Jewish communities of the time. A distinctive feature is the agape tables — circular stone platforms where relatives gathered for commemorative meals in honour of the dead. The complex remained an important archaeological site and was opened to visitors after modern study and conservation.

What to see at St Paul's Catacombs

• The main galleries with their many tomb types, from simple graves to canopied tombs.
• agape tables — used for funerary meals.
• An interpretation centre explaining burial customs.
• The cool, quiet underground atmosphere of the rock-cut passages.

Significance

St Paul's Catacombs are the most important evidence of early organised Christianity and late-Roman burial practice in Malta, and among the largest such complexes in the country. They offer a rare window into the religious and social life of the island in the first millennium AD.

Visiting St Paul's Catacombs

The catacombs are a Heritage Malta site with lit walkways. Some passages are narrow and uneven. Check current opening hours, ticket prices and accessibility before visiting.