Rabat: Ancient Sites and Cultural Heritage

Rabat begins below the bastions of Mdina. In the past, the suburb covered almost the entire Roman city—a connection that brings the area’s ancient history into focus. Among underground burial sites, a Roman home, and Baroque architectural history, a multifaceted cultural theme unfolds for your trip planning.

Catacombs and religious tradition

The St Paul’s Catacombs served as a burial site during Punic, Roman, and Byzantine times. The area contains more than 30 hypogea; the main complex extends over more than 2,000 m². These figures describe two different scales: the number of underground burial complexes and the area of the main complex. The site was also the first in Malta to receive the European Heritage Label. Those who place archaeological sites in the context of their long history of use can consider three successive eras here.

St Paul’s Grotto is also associated with a religious tradition and is one of Malta’s most revered sites. According to tradition, Paul is said to have stayed there after arriving in Malta in 60 AD. The grotto contains a statue of Saint Paul, donated by Grand Master Pinto in 1748. The underground area includes a labyrinth of 3rd-century AD tombs in the Catacombs. The underground area also contains about 50 rooms in the World War II bunkers. Religious remembrance, ancient burial, and World War II history stand side by side here as distinct layers of time.

Museum history and Roman daily life

The Wignacourt Collegiate Museum reveals another historical layer: the building was once the Baroque residence of the chaplains of the Order of St John. The picture gallery on the first floor includes works by Mattia Preti, Antoine Favray, and Francesco Zahra. Here, you encounter both the building’s former purpose and artworks by three specifically named artists.

The Domvs Romana was discovered by chance in 1881. The first purpose-built structure on the Maltese islands to protect an archaeological site and its collection was constructed here. The current exhibition guides visitors through various aspects of the family and domestic life of the Roman aristocracy. The Domvs Romana thus complements the burial sites with another perspective on antiquity: the focus here is on private and domestic life.

Landscape history and water

The name Chadwick Lakes recalls the work of Sir Osbert Chadwick. In the second half of the 19th century, he planned several dams to store rainwater. The site’s name thus also refers to the way water was managed at the time.

In Qlejgħa Valley, the stream forms small pools or even a small waterfall where depressions occur in the terrain. Water levels vary by season. This landscape differs from the architectural and archaeological themes of the museums and Catacombs: in the valley, the stream and terrain shape the experience.

Route to the Fiddien Box Interpretation Centre

From the Għajn National Water Conservation Centre in Rabat, a signposted route follows Għajn Qajjet Road about 500 metres downhill to the main entrance of the Fiddien Box Interpretation Centre. The distance is approximate. Check road conditions locally before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Marsaskala, Gozo, San Pawl Il-Baħar, Għasri, Munxar, Għargħur, Ħal Għaxaq, Gharb.

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