Ras il-Wardija Punic Sanctuary

A sanctuary at the edge of the world

On the promontory of Ras il-Wardija, where limestone cliffs plunge 120 metres to the sea, Phoenician sailors carved a sanctuary to the goddess Astarte into the living rock. The name "Wardija" is a corruption of Italian "Guardia" (watch post), as the headland served as a coastal lookout for centuries.

A chamber with five niches

The sanctuary consists of a T-shaped corridor leading to a rectangular chamber with five large niches carved into three walls, decorated with imitation architectural mouldings. A rock-cut bench runs along the walls, probably for ceremonial banqueting or offerings. Also hewn from the rock are a basin with internal steps (ritual bathing?), a bell-shaped well, and a water reservoir.

700 years of prayer

The sanctuary was established in the 4th-3rd century BC and remained active through the Roman period, possibly into the 4th century AD. In 2021-2022, a team from La Sapienza University in Rome (Federica Spagnoli) discovered pottery fragments inscribed with Astarte's name, confirming a direct link to Tas-Silg, Malta's main Punic sanctuary. Crosses carved on the walls testify to later Christian appropriation of the site.

Theft and recovery

On 30 March 1988, someone cut a carved figure with outstretched arms from the wall of one of the niches. Probably a symbol of the goddess Tanit or a medieval cross. With an axe. From living rock. The graffito was recovered only after 23 years, in June 2011. It can now be seen at the Archaeology Museum in the Victoria Citadel.

Trail and access

The sanctuary lies on the cliff path between Xlendi and Dwejra, about 150 m from the Ta' Sarraflu freshwater pool. The land is private (Spiteri family), with no fencing or tourist infrastructure. Cliff edges have no safety barriers. The ruins are in a neglected state, but the dramatic setting on the edge of a 120-metre precipice rewards the effort of finding it.

Practical tip: Walk from Ta' Sarraflu toward the cliffs (about 10 minutes). The sanctuary is rock-cut and easy to miss. Look for a rectangular depression in the terrain. The original Tanit/cross graffito can be seen at the Archaeology Museum in the Citadel (EUR 2 admission).