St Paul's Cathedral, Valletta: What To See

St Paul’s Pro Cathedral is the main Church Of England church in Malta. It looks from the outside like someone has lifted it from London and plonked it in Valletta as it’s actually based on the design for St Martin In the Fields – a significant church in the British capital. It has a 60 metre tall tower, which can be seen all over Valletta and it’s an attractive building inside and out. The church is pretty much next door to Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Basilica, so you can see both places of worship at the same time. Without doubt, the Carmelite church is the most impressive, but there’s also beauty in St Paul’s simplicity.

Things to look out for in the interior include the bishop’s throne, to the right of the altar and the stunning baptistry at the rear of the church (pictured below). There are also various panels on the walls commemorating significant Maltese people and don’t miss the glass cabinet at the rear, where artefacts from the cathedral’s construction are displayed. During the bombardment of Valletta in WW2 the church received damage and the roof collapsed. It was rebuilt after the war when a pulpit was incorporated into the screen which is dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill.

The cathedral dates back 1839 when Queen Adelaide laid the foundation stone. The original building design was found to be unworkable though and construction had to start again in 1841. Although there are huge columns at the ‘front’, the main entrance is actually at the side of the building just to the right of the steps down to the Sliema ferry. These steps also give access to the St Paul’s undercroft which contains a visitor’s centre and a restaurant. Here you’ll find some of the church’s public records and artefacts, laid out in museum style.

St Paul’s Pro Cathedral is open to visitors from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday. The church is only open for services on Sundays. As you enter, you will be asked for a suggested donation of 5 Euros per adult. This is optional however as access to the cathedral is free.