Malta is the tenth smallest country in the world. But this small island nation exerts a mighty spiritual magnetism that has drawn pilgrims from around the world, into the very heart of the Mediterranean region, for millennia. Its history is rich with ancient religious traditions and cultural influences that intersect in profound ways.
At the threshold between East and West, North and South, Malta has long been regarded as a sacred crossroads where nature, faith, and history intertwine in unsuspected ways. For those on a spiritual quest, the archipelago offers a journey into the soul of early Christianity. Here, the echoes of saints, apostles, and ageless pilgrims and heroes still resonate.
In that sense, Malta is not just a place to visit; it is a destination that needs to be deeply explored and experienced, as pilgrims find themselves walking in the footsteps of saints while traveling along sacred pilgrimage routes that crisscross the islands.
Malta’s spiritual and religious heritage
Malta’s spiritual landscape has been shaped time and again over millennia, making it one of the most unique pilgrimage destinations in the world. Indeed, the island’s deep religious roots date back to prehistoric times, with ancient temples such as Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra marking the beginning of spiritual practice long before the rise of Christianity. Indeed, these sites have been deemed among the most ancient religious sites on Earth, inviting contemplation of humanity’s earliest search for the divine, and creating an atmosphere where this craving for the sacred feels like written in the stones themselves.
With the arrival of Christianity in the first century AD, the island’s religious identity became irrevocably intertwined with the story of St. Paul. Shipwrecked on the island in 60 AD on his way to Rome, St. Paul’s presence transformed Malta into one of the earliest Christian communities in the whole world. The Maltese embraced the faith, and, to this day, St. Paul is revered as the spiritual father of the island. His story is way more than a historical footnote in the Book of Acts: it serves as the foundation of Malta’s Christian tradition, and pilgrims who go to the archipelago who walk in his footsteps find themselves on holy ground – constantly.
Pilgrimaging across the Archipelago
What makes Malta a particularly attractive pilgrimage destination today is its pilgrimage routes network. Nearly six pilgrimage routes span the islands of Malta and Gozo, and have been carefully signaled, cared for, and revamped thanks to a recent collaboration between the Malta Tourism Authority and XirCammini, a voluntary, non-profit making, non-denominational and non-sectarian membership organisation, open to all who support its aims, whose primary and over-riding objects are to research and advance knowledge and education about and generate interest in pilgrimages, hiking and/or faith travel, focusing mainly on the ancient routes in Europe.
Despite the archipelago’s small size (or perhaps precisely because of it) these routes offer an exceptional immersive experience into Maltese spirituality, allowing pilgrims to travel through landscapes rich in religious history and cultural significance.
The Way of St. Paul is perhaps the most iconic (and typically Maltese) of these paths, following in the footsteps of the apostle from his shipwreck site at St. Paul’s Bay to the grotto where he sought refuge, and on to the St. Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat – a labyrinthine network of underground tombs that tell the story of early Christian burials. This route allows pilgrims to connect deeply with the apostle’s legacy, and with the very origins of Christianity in Malta, offering a unique glimpse into early Christian practices in the Mediterranean.
The most famous pilgrimage route in the archipelago must be the Camino Maltés, which links Malta to the Camino de Santiago – a pilgrimage route that has attracted Christians and non-Christians from all over Europe (and beyond) for centuries. Starting in Malta, pilgrims can embark on a spiritual journey that spans countries and cultures, highlighting the island’s own history as a crossroads of civilizations, and as one of the very cradles of European culture.
Other itineraries include Marian pilgrimages (Melita Mariana and Maria Melitensis) that cover exceptional Marian sites in the archipelago –anything from major National shrines, like the majestic Basilica of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, in Gozo, to underground-grotto chapels traditionally regarded as miraculous by many.
A short journey, infinite depth
What sets Malta apart as a pilgrimage destination is not only its history, but also the surprising accessibility of its spiritual treasures. Dotted with chapels, basilicas, hermitages, grottoes, paleo-Christian catacombs, and convents and monasteries, the island offers a pilgrimage experience that can be completed in a relatively short time.
The entire Maltese archipelago can be traversed in just a few days, but its sacred paths are layered with history, culture, and steadfast faith. This compact geography allows for a unique pilgrimage in which (almost literally) every step reveals new layers of spiritual insight, cultural history, and natural beauty.
For pilgrims who may not have the time to commit to long, extended journeys, Malta offers the perfect blend of brevity and depth. The trails are manageable yet profound, offering physical challenge without overwhelming, and creating a sense of accomplishment as pilgrims reach sacred sites and share contemplative moments of quiet awe. Whether walking along rugged coastlines or through ancient stone villages, pilgrims are immersed in the sacred atmosphere of Malta, a place where the line between past and present, heaven and earth, saints and family, is certainly thinner than elsewhere.
Malta’s culinary heritage: A feast for body and soul
As pilgrims travel the archipelago’s sacred paths, they will also encounter a rich culinary tradition that reflects its history as a crossroads and cradle of cultures. Maltese cuisine is a vibrant fusion of Mediterranean flavors, techniques, and ingredients influenced by centuries of contact with neighboring cultures from Italy, Greece, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. In between moments of prayer and contemplation, pilgrims can rest and enjoy local delicacies that nourish both body and soul.
Traditional Maltese dishes such as ftira, a local bread served with olive oil, tomatoes and fresh cheese, or rabbit stew, a classic national dish that perfectly summarizes the island’s simple yet hearty culinary heritage. For a quick snack on the go, pastizzi, flaky pastries stuffed with ricotta or peas, offer a taste of Malta’s vibrant street food culture. Each meal becomes an opportunity for reflection, as the island’s culinary flavors speak to the broader spiritual and cultural journey that pilgrims undertake.
The call of Malta: A pilgrimage beyond expectations
For pilgrims seeking a journey that is rich, surprising, varied, and deeply transformative, Malta offers an experience far beyond its size. Its pilgrimage routes span the whole archipelago and its different landscapes, while inviting travelers to walk in the footsteps of saints, apostles, and believers from times past and present. The spiritual, cultural and physical rewards of these journeys are immense, compressed into a land that can be traversed in days, but will resonate in the soul for a lifetime.
A treasure trove of faith, traditions, and culture, Malta offers a unique synthesis of everything a pilgrim seeks: spiritual awakening, historical immersion, physical challenge, and the joy of authentically shared human experiences. To travel here is to discover that the Maltese Islands, though small, contain multitudes – offering the pilgrim everything he seeks and more.
