St. Paul's Catacombs in Rabat — An Underground City of the Dead

Beneath Rabat, right at the boundary with Mdina, a second city lies hidden. Carved in rock, dark and silent. These are St. Paul's Catacombs — the largest catacombs on Malta and one of the most important early-Christian sites in the entire Mediterranean basin.

Why Underground?

Roman practice was straightforward: the dead are not buried inside the city. So for centuries, tombs were carved beneath Rabat (which lay just outside the walls of Mdina). The labyrinth grew over the generations, reflecting the religious and cultural diversity of the society above.

What You Will See

• Agape Tables: Round tables with benches carved directly into the rock. Families gathered here for the funeral meal — a farewell feast eaten beside the graves of loved ones. Nowhere else in the world has so many of these.
• Multi-faith burials: Jewish, Christian and pagan graves — all in the same labyrinth. Menorah, cross, tools of a trade — different symbols, the same eternal neighbours.
• St. Agatha's Catacombs: An adjacent set of catacombs nearby (separate ticket). Famous for medieval frescoes, partially faded but still visible.

Practical Notes

Ticket: €6 (or free with the Heritage Malta Pass). A guide is included in the price. It is cool and damp inside — a pleasant relief from summer heat. Visiting time: about 45 minutes. Rabat is a few minutes by bus from central Valletta.