St Paul's Catacombs

The catacombs under Rabat are the largest complex of their kind on the islands, cut into the rock from the third century onwards and used into the early medieval period. They are notable for holding Christian, Jewish and pagan burials in the same ground, which says something about how the communities coexisted. Agape tables, circular stone platforms cut from the rock for funerary meals, are a distinctive Maltese feature found throughout the complex.

The main sights

• The agape tables - circular rock-cut platforms used for funerary meals.
• The mixed burials - Christian, Jewish and pagan tombs in the same complex.
• The menorah carvings - Jewish symbols marking part of the burial ground.
• The scale - the largest catacomb complex on the islands, in several sections.

When to go

Year round; the underground temperature is steady and it suits hot days. Mornings are quietest. Some sections close for conservation.

Practical notes

Passages are low and narrow in places and not suitable for anyone with mobility difficulties. Some sections are closed. Lighting is dim and photography is difficult.

Nearby

Rabat surrounds it, and Mdina is through the gate.