The statue of St Paul on St Paul's Island is undergoing repair work after becoming a victim of the elements over the past year.

The work is being carried out in an initiative by Din l-Art Helwa and the Malta Tourism Authority.

Photo: James Licari

Part of the saint’s right arm fell off recently. Stanley Farrugia Randon, Council Member of the heritage NGO, found the missing pieces. Din l-Art Helwa applied to the authorities to be allowed to carry out emergency restoration works and MTA provided the necessary funds.

Azzopardi Fisheries and AJD Tuna Ltd provided their vessels for the carriage of scaffolding and material. The conservation work is by Heritage Resco conservators James Licari, Ingrid Ross and Frank Chetcuti.

The statue of St Paul is the work of sculptors, Sigismondo Dimech (1780-1853) and Salvatore Dimech (1805-1887). It is about four metres high and shows St Paul holding a book in his left hand while holding the right hand high. At St Paul's feet lies the snake which, according to the Acts of the Apostles, came out of the fire and bit his hand.

The stone statue stands on a platform 8.3 metres high, the work of Francesco Spiteri.  

It was inaugurated and blessed on September 21, 1845.