Rabat's St Paul’s basilica belfry to be restored, with streets repaved
Aim to drive more religious tourism to Rabat
Restoration works on the historic belfry of Rabat's St Paul’s Basilica and the repaving of nearby streets are among a series of initiatives aimed to strengthen the locality's appeal as one of Malta’s leading religious tourism destinations.
The projects, supported by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), form part of a wider regeneration effort around the basilica and its surrounding historic core, which attracts thousands of local and foreign visitors each year.
During a site visit on Saturday, Tourism Minister Ian Borg announced that the MTA will fund restoration works on the basilica’s centuries-old belfry, one of the oldest surviving structures within the church complex. The intervention will address structural deterioration and long-standing conservation concerns.
The authority is also collaborating with Infrastructure Malta and the Rabat council to repave some of the narrow streets and alleyways frequently used by tourists and organised groups visiting the town's historic centre.
The announcements were made during a tour of the ongoing restoration of the Sacro Monte, a monumental structure adjoining the basilica that is currently undergoing its final phase of rehabilitation. MTA chairman Charles Mangion and chief executive Carlo Micallef joined the visit alongside Rabat mayor Sandro Craus and St Paul’s parish archpriest Rev. Joseph Mizzi.
The wider piazza regeneration project has transformed what was previously a car park into a pedestrianised public space featuring limestone paving, olive trees, seating areas and architectural lighting.
The Sacro Monte itself holds strong religious and historical significance. Dedicated to St Paul, the monument also featured prominently during the 1933 Jubilee celebrations and the 1990 visit by Pope John Paul II.
Current works include the restoration of original masonry, flagstones and balustrades, while later additions dating from the 1960s onwards are being removed to restore the monument’s original appearance. Archaeological and photographic evidence is also guiding the reconstruction of part of the original staircase leading to street level.