Heritage Malta is organizing a Heritage Trail on Early Christianity in Malta which will take participants to paleochristian catacombs and other sites associated with early Christianity in Malta. The trail will visit San Pawl Milqi in Burmarrad, Bistra Catacombs in Mosta and the Jewish section of St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat. Practically all the sites which will be visited during the heritage trail are closed to the public.
The Maltese paleochristian catacombs are amongst the most important early Christian monuments south of Rome. The islands are rich in these types of burial sites which date to the late Roman and Byzantine period, of which many are found, in many parts of the Maltese islands. Most of these fall within the Rabat plateau, but several smaller hypogea are scattered widely in the countryside or in urban contexts.
Ta’ Bistra Catacombs consist of an extensive system of early Christian tombs having individual entrances perforated within the vertical face of the ridge overlooking St Paul’s Bay. These catacombs consist of sixteen groups of hypogea (chambers) tunnelled next to each other with the first hypogeum being the largest.
San Pawl Milqi is by far the largest and best preserved remains of a roman villa found on the Maltese islands. It is located on a hillside near Burmarrad, next to, and underneath a 17th century chapel dedicated to St Paul where it is commonly believed that Publius, the then Island’s Roman governor, welcomed St Paul and where the Apostle preached after his shipwreck on Malta in around AD 60.
The Trail will take place on Sunday 17th February. Transport departs from in front of the Phoenicia Hotel at 9.00am returning at about 1.00 pm. As the number of places for this event is limited one should book a ticket at e15 (Lm6.44). Only persons aged 12 years and older are allowed. Heritage Malta members pay e10 (LM 4.29).
Tickets can be obtained from Judy Camilleri at the Heritage Malta Head Office in Merchants Street Valletta. For further information please contact Mario Casha on 22954307.