Mdina Cathedral

Where St. Paul met the governor

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.

Earthquake and rebuilding

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.

Frescoes and treasures

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.