St. Paul's Catacombs, Underground Roman cemetery in Rabat, Malta
St. Paul's Catacombs is an underground Roman cemetery beneath Rabat with burial chambers and passageways spread across multiple levels. The network consists of different burial areas connected by corridors and shows various burial practices from its periods of use.
The burial complex began in the 3rd century BC and served as a cemetery through the Punic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. It evolved from a Punic burial ground into a significant cemetery for different cultures across several centuries.
The main halls contain circular tables on platforms that mirror Roman dining furniture, used for memorial meals during annual festivals of the dead. This setup shows how families honored their deceased at this site.
Visiting requires descending stairs and walking through narrow passages, which can be challenging for people with mobility limitations. An interpretive center at ground level helps visitors understand the site before heading underground.
A section of the catacombs was transformed into a Christian shrine in the 13th century and still displays preserved medieval murals. This conversion shows how the site held different religious meanings across the centuries.
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