Ghargur

The titular statue of St Bartholomew in Għargħur is one of Malta’s treasured Baroque works of art, dating back to the 18th century. Commissioned through a fund established by local priest Fr Orazio Sant in 1758, the statue was ordered from Rome and arrived in Malta in bare wood form in 1772. It depicts St Bartholomew holding a dagger and his own flayed skin, a striking symbol of the saint’s martyrdom. While its exact sculptor remains unknown, some attribute it to the school of Melchiorre Gafà due to stylistic similarities. Over the centuries, the statue has been lovingly restored, most recently by Giuseppe Mantella and Sonia Martino, preserving its original paint and fine detail. Each year, it takes pride of place in Għargħur’s feast procession, embodying the town’s faith, artistry, and enduring devotion.