The Parish Church of Our Lady of Pompei in Marsaxlokk was built in 1890 as a vow by Marchioness Rosalia Apap Viani Testaferrata after surviving a violent storm at sea. Marsaxlokk, now a peaceful fishing village, was for centuries frequently attacked by corsairs, leading to long periods of abandonment. In the 19th century, as the town reemerged as a fishing hub and summer retreat, the church was constructed and later elevated to parish status in 1897. It was expanded into a Latin cross layout and adorned with a neo-baroque façade in the 1920s under architect Giuseppe Lia. The devotion to Our Lady of Pompei originated in Italy with Blessed Bartolo Longo, who promoted the Rosary and founded the sanctuary in Pompeii. This Marian devotion spread widely throughout the Catholic world, including Malta. Today, Marsaxlokk hosts Malta’s national pilgrimage to Our Lady of Pompei every May 8.
- Address
28 San Guzepp, Marsaxlokk, Malta - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Everyday from 7:15 to 19:00 - What to see
Paintings by Giuseppe Calì
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