The Wignacourt Museum, located next to St Paul’s Basilica in Rabat, occupies the former Baroque residence of the chaplains of the Order of Malta. Commissioned by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt in the early seventeenth century and completed in 1749, the museum forms part of Malta’s important Pauline heritage. It is directly connected to St Paul’s Grotto, traditionally believed to be the place where the Apostle Paul lived and preached during his three-month stay on the island after the shipwreck described in the Acts of the Apostles.
The museum presents more than two millennia of Maltese history across three levels. Beneath the building lies a remarkable network of Punic, Roman and early Christian hypogea, together with extensive World War II air-raid shelters. The upper galleries house an impressive collection of paintings by Mattia Preti, Antoine Favray, Francesco Zahra and Giuseppe Calì, as well as silverware, relics, sculptures, rare books, maps and coins. A beautifully preserved Baroque chapel, once used by the chaplains of the Knights of Malta, completes one of the island’s most fascinating historical and religious museums.
- Address
2 College Street, Rabat, Malta - Web
https://www.wignacourtmuseum.com/ - Visiting Hours
Every day from 9:30 am to 5:00pm - What to see
St Paul’s Grotto and underground complex, Art gallery, Baroque chapel of the Knights of Malta’s chaplains
AI Transparency Notice
PilgriMaps uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in the research, drafting and translation of editorial content. All AI-assisted content is reviewed, edited and verified by our editorial team before publication. We contrast information against primary sources, specialist literature and on-the-ground knowledge to ensure accuracy, cultural sensitivity and editorial integrity.
AI is one tool among many in our workflow. The judgement, curation and responsibility for everything published on this platform remain entirely human.
Viator Media S.L. — in compliance with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation EU 2024/1689).
This post is also available in:
