Rabat: Underground History and Roman Culture

Rabat combines impressive evidence of antiquity with religious sites, Baroque art and distinctive landscapes. The suburb begins below the bastions of Mdina and formerly encompassed almost the entire Roman city. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Rabat will find a cultural focal point for a trip that brings together different interests, including underground history, museum visits and experiences in the landscape.

Underground History in St Paul’s Catacombs

Among the most striking sights are St Paul’s Catacombs. They served as a burial site during the Punic, Roman and Byzantine periods. The area comprises more than 30 hypogea, while the main complex covers an area of more than 2,000 m². St Paul’s Catacombs were also the first site in Malta to receive the European Heritage Label. For visitors interested in archaeological spaces and Malta’s long history, this site offers a particularly concentrated insight into the past.

Another historical focal point is St Paul’s Grotto. It is one of Malta’s most venerated 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 World War II shelters in the underground area of St Paul’s Grotto comprise around 50 rooms. The catacombs there also form a labyrinth of underground tombs dating from the 3rd century AD. Thus, religious tradition, historical memory and archaeological evidence come together in one place.

Roman Everyday Life and Baroque Art

The Domvs Romana focuses on the private life and living habits of an ancient Roman aristocrat. It was discovered by chance in 1881 and led to the construction of the first purpose-built structure on the Maltese islands to protect an archaeological site and its collection. The current exhibition explores various aspects of family and household life among the Roman aristocracy. This makes the visit particularly interesting if you want to learn not only about monumental history, but also about the everyday lives of past societies.

At the Wignacourt Collegiate Museum, by contrast, you will encounter Baroque and ecclesiastical history. The building was formerly the Baroque residence of the chaplains of the Order of St John. The picture gallery on the first floor displays works by Mattia Preti, Antoine Favray and Francesco Zahra. If art is important to you when planning your trip, Rabat allows you to combine a museum visit with a glimpse into the religiously shaped past.

Landscaped Contrasts and a Specific Walking Route

Beyond the underground and museum sites, the Rabat experiences described here also feature contrasts in the landscape. Chadwick Lakes was named after the work of Sir Osbert Chadwick, who planned several dams for storing rainwater in the second half of the 19th century. In Qlejgħa Valley, the stream forms small pools or even a small waterfall where depressions occur in the terrain. These details complement the cultural and historical focus with water, landforms and human interventions in the landscape.

A clearly described route leads from the Għajn National Water Conservation Centre via Għajn Qajjet Road approximately 500 metres downhill to the main entrance of the Fiddien Box Interpretation Centre. The route is signposted. When planning your day, it is sensible to take the approximate distance and the downhill route into account from the outset, especially if you want to combine cultural and landscape experiences.

Rabat as a Considered Choice for Trip Planning

Rabat suits a trip in which you want to do more than simply tick off individual sights and instead compare different historical layers: burial sites from various periods, the tradition surrounding Paul, Roman family life, Baroque art and the history of the landscape create a diverse picture. When looking for a holiday apartment or other accommodation, you can therefore first consider whether your focus is on catacombs and museums, religious history or combining these with the routes and valleys described.

More Ideas for Places to Visit

If you would like to compare Rabat with other destinations, you can also look at Nadur, San Lawrenz, Victoria, Mqabba, Munxar, Gzira, Ghammar and Swieqi.

For the overarching travel overview: Malta.