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Latest Rabat hotel reviews
It was allmost opposite of St. Paul´s catacombs. It is much smaller, and you can´t walk there without guided tour. Luckily the guide was vey good and taled only what needed (we don´t care about those tours witch have too much stories, we rather hear the facts only). It came out that the guide was learning archeology, so that´s why he did it so well I think.
There was about 20min to do the tour. You should not miss the group, because they will shut down the lights after 20min. You wouldn´t like to stay here at the dark, it was even more a labyrinth than st.Pauls.
At the begining there is the crypt, witch makes this different from St. Pauls. It has well saved paintings at the walls.
It´s not allowed to take photos inside here, but you can buy photos of the place. But I won´t put those photos in here, you can see the photos from internet. The photo is from the way to the catacombs, where you see the signs.
The tours are often, about every 30min. When you wait for the tour, go up to the museum. It looked like a small stone-collection first, but after seeing the stones, you can walk upstairs (where I thought would only be a small room of more stones) and see bigger museum. It´s intresting enough to see at same money. There was also third room with church museum.
I guess this place could be pre booked in summer. No need for that in winter.
I think that St. Pauls catacombs were also very interesting, close to this place. Even if the ticket lady said it would me "nothing" after this.
Written Jun 19, 2011
Address: St Agatha Str, Rabat
Phone: (+356) 21454503
Website: http://www.visitmalta.com/st-agathas-catacombs
I was affraid I would feel claustrofobic, but it wasn´t so small, and when you found it interesting, you forgot you were under ground ;) Maybe it´s not suitable for everyone, but I had no problems in it.
We didn´t find the place first, but when we got to "mains squere" (we had no map) there were finally signs to show us.
I red somewhere that we should book ahead, but at least at march we had no problem getting in. You didn´t also need a guide, you can walk there by yourself.
Flashlights aren´´t allowed, but with digital camera and big ISO- number (I don´t know how to say this correct in English) you could get just fine photos.
You must have heard these were the tombs. I find it hard to imagine they could stay here long times "visiting" the dead ones, and even eat therem next to them..
We heard some locals say, that there´s nothing to see in here, only at St. Agathas catacombs. We don´t agree. In some way this was even more interesting. One ereason was the size of it, and another was the freedom to walk around by yourself.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 9.00-17.00
Last admission: 16.30
Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January, Good Friday
Updated Jun 19, 2011
Address: St. Agatha Street
Phone: +356 21 454 562
Website: http://www.heritagemalta.org/sites/sites.html
Once the political center of Malta, Mdina and Rabat were obvious choices in the old days of where people would go for some assistance.
The story goes that in 60AD, St. Paul was shipwrecked and in need of just such assistance. However being at the time a non-Christian nation, he had to tread lightly.
He sought refuge in the Grotto, which had for centuries been used as a prison during the Roman times. The chain hooks can still be seen in the ceiling.
After gaining favor of many locals, the Grotto became site of the first Christian services on the island, the mayor of the day was the first baptized on the island too. Once Malta warmed to Christianity, eventually the church was built directly above the Grotto.
If you get this far, you may very well be standing in the footsteps of St Paul and two Popes who have prayed in the very spot.
Updated May 6, 2011
Address: Rabat Center Plaza
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This great fountain is situated pretty close to the building called "Casino Notabile" and you will also see it when arriving by public bus from Valetta or when approaching Rabat or Mdina by the hop-on,hop-off-bus.
Updated Nov 15, 2010
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It was really very interesting for me to walk through the town of Rabat, I saw many great buildings with the kind of balconies that are so typical for Malta. You dont have to search for any special street to walk through, all of the streets in the centre are quite the same and my pics here were taken from the street between St. Pauls cathedral and the Roman Villa.
Updated Nov 15, 2010
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Casino Notabile is in quite poor condition at the moment, but a restauration is going on, I took my pics in Nov. 2010 and I hope it will be finished untill I return again to Malta. This building was constructed in 1887 and it once used to be a club for the High Society & celebrities living in Mdina and Rabat at that time.
Updated Nov 14, 2010
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Mdina, the old walled capital of Malta is a part of Rabat nowadays and it is also its most interesting sight : Mdina is in the geographical centre of the island and as it is situated on top of a small hill you can overlook all of the island and its coast from there, that was quite important in the times crusades and when enemies tried to conquer Malta.
Updated Nov 14, 2010
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St. Agathas Catacombes are obviously a lot more interesting than the St. Paul's Catacombs because in St. Agathas Catacombes you will also see some great frescoes. It is a pity that I totally missed that due to the fact that I had just a limited time there and our driver of the "Minibus-tour" did not tell us anything, where to go and what to see.
In any case, in St. Agathas Catacombes you need to take a guided tour and the number of daily visitors is also limited in order to keep the climate down there stabile for the fragile frescoes.
Updated Nov 14, 2010
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This is the most famous mosaique of the Roman Villa: a bowl and 2 doves plus an excellent example of a three-dimensional mosaique around of it, just click also on my extra photos and you will look into a labyrinth that looks really like beeing 3-dimensional.
On the total you have to calculate a minimum of 10-15 min for this museum, its main attractions are without doubt these large mosaiques.
Updated Nov 14, 2010
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St. Paul's Catacombs
are a wide labyrinth of corridors and tombs under the ground. Photography is allowed there, but only without a flash and tripod, well at least next to the entrance that was no problem and for the rest you will need a very good lense in order to be able to take photos. I was in a hurry, so I did just explore some of the first chambers, you really might get lost here without a map or without a guide.
St. Paul's Catacombs are open :
daily from 09.00am till 05.00pm
last admission: 04.30pm !
except December 24th, 25th and 31st
January 1st and Good Friday.
the entrancefee is 5 euros
Updated Nov 13, 2010
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Reviews and photos of Rabat attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Rabat sightseeing.
St. Paul's Catacombs are a wide labyrinth of corridors and tombs under the ground. Photography is allowed there, but only without a flash and tripod, well at...
13 members live in Rabat
Q: Some of the tips said you need to have a guided tour in here, and there is limited number of people allowed there. Did I...
A: I've been there without a guide. There weren't many people when I was there (in September), so that wasn't a problem either. But this was in 1991, things may have...
Read 3 Replies
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