The opulent interior of the catholic church of St Paul, Rabat, Malta, showing the fine dome
The Church of St. Paul, built above the grotto, dates from the 17th century. The statue of St Paul was donated by Grand Master Pinto in 1748; the silver galley hanging from the ceiling was given by the Knights of St John in 1960 to mark the 1,900-year anniversary of St Paul's shipwreck. Pope John Paul prayed in the grotto during his visit in May 1990. The Sanctuary of St Publius was added on to the Church of St. Paul in 1617. The Spaniard Publius came to Malta in about 1600 to become a knight, but upon visiting the grotto he decided to become a hermit instead. Lorenzo Gafa renovated the building in 1692 and his brother Melchiorre executed the marble statue of St Paul.
Size: 5150px × 3313px
Location: Church of St Paul, Parish Square, Rabat, Malta
Photo credit: © Christopher Woodhouse / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1748, 1960, church, domed, grotto, nave, opulent, paul, rabat, st
