St Paul's Catacombs in Rabat took centre stage as Heritage Malta celebrated a historic milestone as the site became Malta's first to receive the European Heritage Label. The achievement was marked with a special open day that brought history to life through guided tours and ancient Roman re-enactments, in the presence of European Commissioner Glenn Micallef and other distinguished guests.
The site was awarded the prestigious label earlier this year, and Heritage Malta representatives officially received it at a subsequent ceremony for the newly selected sites, which also marked 15 years of the European Heritage Label. A flagship initiative of the European Commission's 'Creative Europe' framework, the label represents a community of heritage sites across the European Union, recognised for their high European symbolic value and their contribution to shaping European identity.
St Paul's Catacombs earned their place among the Label sites through exceptional historical significance. They are the largest burial site of the classical period in Malta, dating to Punic, Roman and Byzantine times. The site is also unique because Jewish, polytheist and Christian tombs lie within the same cemetery, offering some of the earliest material evidence of religious coexistence, diversity and freedom of belief in Europe.
A recreated ancient Roman funeral procession was among the day's highlights, allowing those present to experience and actively take part in funerary customs once practised at the site. The procession set off from the visitors' centre and made its way to the Catacombs, where actors recreated the traditional meal shared beside the grave by the relatives of the deceased. Curator-led tours and an 'Ask the Curator' session offered deeper insight into the site's history and archaeology, while younger visitors enjoyed treasure hunts and a hands-on excavation activity.
European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, was joined by Minister for Arts, Culture and National Heritage, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, European Heritage Label Bureau Director, Vincente Curie, and Heritage Malta Chairman, Mario Cutajar.
Looking ahead, the agency aims to deliver the project submitted as part of the certification process, making this burial complex an even more engaging historic and educational destination. Plans include a reconfigured visitors' centre, updated exhibition areas, a pavilion highlighting elements of the site which align with the values of the European Heritage Label, a youth-focused excavation pit, and audio guides in more European languages, better conveying the site's European significance.