St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral stands in Mdina’s central square, with a limestone façade that gives way to an ornate Baroque interior. Rebuilt by Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafà after the 1693 earthquake, it is traditionally linked to the meeting between St. Paul and the Roman governor Publius. Look for the painted vault, marble tombstones, decorated relics and works by Mattia Preti. The ticket also includes the Cathedral Museum across the square, where religious art and artefacts add context to the visit.

A cathedral rebuilt after the earthquake

The cathedral’s history reaches back to the 12th century. Local tradition places it on the site where the Roman governor Publius met St. Paul after the apostle’s shipwreck on Malta. The account is part of the cathedral’s story, though the precise history of the meeting and location is open to interpretation.

The earlier Norman cathedral was severely damaged in the 1693 earthquake. Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafà designed the Baroque rebuilding, carried out from the late 17th century into the early 18th. The present building is associated with Gafà’s work and dates to around 1702 to 1705. Its twin bell towers rise above Mdina’s central square.

Details inside the cathedral

The contrast between the restrained exterior and the richly decorated interior is one of the visit’s defining features. Look up at the painted vault, whose scenes depict St. Paul’s shipwreck, and take time to examine the paintings and elaborate decoration. Mattia Preti’s work includes the apse mural The Shipwreck of St. Paul.

The floor is laid with marble tombstones, many decorated with detailed inlays. These can be easy to pass over while looking at the ceiling and walls, so pause to inspect them. The cathedral also holds decorated relics with intricate metalwork. The bells are part of the atmosphere around the square, and a wedding or other service may be taking place during a visit.