- Address
VCM3+V9W, Mdina, Malta
- Web
None - Visiting Hours
Always open - What to see
Niche of St Paul
Saqqajja, whose name originates from the Semitic/Arabic word meaning “spring of water,” also houses a fountain commissioned by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt. This fountain, erected during the design of the aqueduct system between Rabat and Valletta, adds an additional element of symbolism to Saqqajja as a place where water, the source of life, combines with the spirituality and history of Malta. Thus, the St. Paul’s Niche in Saqqajja stands as a meeting point between religious devotion, local history and connection with the natural environment.
The niche of St. Paul in Saqqajja, built during the magisterium of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena in 1727, stands as a significant spiritual site on the Maltese Way. Located in the center of the square, this niche played a crucial role during times of hardship, such as famines and plagues that affected the population of Rabat. In those times of adversity, the niche became a place of religious devotion, offering solace and hope to the community. Its construction symbolizes the connection between faith and solidarity, marking a space where spirituality and community support are poignantly intertwined.
