In the rural landscape of Żurrieq lies Tal-Baqqari, a once-thriving medieval hamlet now remembered for its archaeological and historical importance. The site preserves the ruins of two small 12th–13th century chapels, one dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and the other to St Catherine of Alexandria. Built atop the remains of a Roman temple, the chapels shared a forecourt that was also used as a burial ground, and were likely connected internally — a typical feature of medieval church design.
The area was abandoned after the 15th century, and the chapels were formally deconsecrated and demolished in 1658 due to their deteriorated condition. Today, visitors can still see parts of the original walls, as well as evidence of Punic and Roman activity. Not far from the churches stands the Tal-Baqqari tower, a round Roman structure believed to date to the 4th century AD, built from the same stone as the chapels.
Tal-Baqqari is also home to prehistoric cart ruts and megaliths, indicating continuous human presence from the Bronze Age onwards. According to tradition, the construction of the chapels symbolized a conversion to Roman Catholicism following the Norman conquest of Malta in 1091. More than a ruin, Tal-Baqqari holds the memory of a community adapting to a changing world through faith and architecture.
- Address
RF9W+VF9, Triq Ħal Far, Iż-Żurrieq, Malta - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Always open - What to see
Church ruins
