The city of Rabat is often referred to as a suburb of the ancient Medina. Nowadays it is here that the bus station is located, where the transport from Valletta arrives, bringing tourists wishing to visit the Medina.
But Rabat also has a number of interesting sights that are worth seeing. These include the large church of St Paul, built over a grotto, where, according to legend, in 60 AD for three months lived the apostle Paul. The grotto was in a deep moat surrounding the city, outside the old walled city.
The first mention of the Church of St Paul dates from 1372. At that time it was called St Paul's Church "outside the walls". A cemetery was laid out on the left side of the church. The modern church building was built in 1575. A few decades later, on the instructions of Grand Master Alof de Vignacourt, it was given the status of a collegiate church of the Order of Malta. At the same time, a number of other buildings belonging to the Church appeared near the church.
The Church of St Paul in Rabat has always enjoyed the support and patronage of the Order of Malta. Thanks to the generous offerings of the Knights, it houses some of the most valuable works of art.
St Paul's Cave is open to the public. Above the altar in the Grotto is a marble image of the Apostle created by sculptors Melchiorre Gafa and Ercole Ferrata. A silver ship is placed under the ceiling. It was made in the XX century especially for the commemoration of the 1900th anniversary of St Paul's arrival on the island of Malta. Access to the grotto can be gained through the Vignacourt Museum.
