Mdina

Standing proudly at the heart of Mdina is St Paul’s Cathedral, said to rise on the spot where Roman governor Publius met the apostle Paul after his shipwreck on Malta in 60 A.D. The first cathedral here dates to the 12th century, but a major earthquake in 1693 destroyed much of it. What we see today is the work of architect Lorenzo Gafà, who rebuilt the cathedral between 1696 and 1705 in the Baroque style. Inside, the cathedral stuns with painted ceiling panels that tell the story of St Paul’s life, as well as a intricate marble floor made up of inlaid tombstones. Don’t miss the original 17th-century altarpiece by Mattia Preti, one of Malta’s most celebrated artists. With its mix of history, legend, and artistic grandeur, this is one of Malta’s most significant and visually striking religious landmarks.