St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina stands where tradition says St. Paul met governor Publius after his shipwreck on Malta in 60 AD. Current building from 1702, after an earthquake.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul stands in the heart of Mdina, Malta's former capital. Tradition holds this is the exact spot where in 60 AD the apostle Paul met the Roman governor Publius after his famous shipwreck on Malta's coast (described in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 28). Publius offered Paul hospitality and later became Malta's first bishop.
The original medieval cathedral was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1693 (the same quake that destroyed Catania in Sicily). The present building was designed by Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa in the Baroque style and consecrated in 1702. Its dome is one of the most important elements of Malta's skyline, visible from many kilometres away.
The interior features a dome fresco by Mattia Preti depicting the shipwreck of St. Paul. The cathedral museum (separate ticket) houses a collection of silverware, liturgical vestments, and woodcuts by Albrecht Durer. The cathedral floor, like that of St. John's Co-Cathedral, is covered in marble tombstones.
Practical tip: Cathedral entry EUR 5, museum EUR 5 (combined EUR 8). Quiet and empty compared to St. John's Co-Cathedral. Best combined with a walk through Mdina, which is an open-air museum in itself.
What happened in Mdina in 60 AD?
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The Cathedral Museum next door has Durer collections and silver ex-votos. EUR 10 entry combined with museum.
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A boutique hotel in Mdina with a confessional-telephone and a terrace overlooking half of Malta. Where prowadzący ends his episode. 5/5 shields.
Palazzo Falson — Mdina's oldest secular building (13th century), with Captain Gollcher's art collection. A house museum where time has stood still.
Mdina after dark — 300 residents, wrought-iron lanterns, silence, and a panorama of twinkling Malta from the bastions. "The most atmospheric place in Malta" according to prowadzący.