St Paul's Catacombs

22/10/2026

🇲🇹 Hekk kif joqrob Halloween, jiġuna f’moħħna l-fantażmi u l-ispirti. Imma kont taf li r-Rumani tal-qedem kienu jemmnu wkoll li l-mejtin setgħu jerġgħu jidhru lill-ħajjin? Il-fantażmi spiss kienu assoċjati ma’ dawk li mietu mewta vjolenti jew li ma ngħatawx difna xierqa. Ir-Rumani kienu jemmnu f’diversi spirti tal-mejtin, fosthom il-Manes, marbuta mal-antenati mejtin, u l-Lemures, spirti bla mistrieħ li setgħu jdejqu lill-ħajjin. Matul il-festa tal-Lemuria, li kienet tiġi ċċelebrata f’Mejju, ir-Rumani kienu jwettqu ritwali biex ikeċċu l-ispirti mhux mixtieqa, fosthom billi jitfgħu fażoli suwed warajhom billejl. Għalkemm Halloween għandu oriġini differenti, il-faxxinu għall-fantażmi żgur mhuwiex xi ħaġa ġdida! 👻🏛️🕯️🫘

🇬🇧 As Halloween approaches, ghosts come to mind. But did you know that the ancient Romans also believed that the dead could return to haunt the living? Ghosts were often associated with those who had suffered violent deaths or been denied proper burial. The Romans believed in various spirits of the dead, including the Manes, associated with deceased ancestors, and the Lemures, restless spirits who could trouble the living. During the festival of Lemuria, celebrated in May, Romans performed rituals to ward off unwanted spirits, including throwing black beans behind them at night. Although Halloween has different origins, the fascination with ghosts is nothing new! 👻🏛️🕯️🫘

13/10/2026

24/09/2026

🇲🇹 🏛️ 🕯️F’Ruma tal-qedem, il-purċissjoni funebri (p***a funebris) kienet mument pubbliku ta’ tifkira u rispett lejn il-mejjet. Il-ġisem kien jinġarr fit-toroq akkumpanjat mill-qraba, mużiċisti u, f’ċerti każijiet, newwieħa professjonali. Familji għonja setgħu saħansitra juru maskri tal-antenati tagħhom biex jenfasizzaw in-nisel u l-pożizzjoni soċjali tal-familja.

🔎 Żuru l-Katakombi ta’ San Pawl u skopru aktar dwar id-drawwiet u t-tradizzjonijiet funebri tad-dinja Rumana.

🇬🇧 🏛️ 🕯️In ancient Rome, the funeral procession (p***a funebris) was a public act of remembrance. The deceased was carried through the streets, often accompanied by relatives, musicians and professional mourners, while wealthier families could also display ancestral masks to emphasise lineage and status.

🔎 Come and explore St. Paul’s Catacombs and uncover the fascinating funerary traditions of the Roman world.

19/09/2026

🇲🇹 🕯️ Museums by Candlelight – Nittamaw li t-temp ma jħassrilniex kollox!

Qed nosservaw it-tibdil fit-temp minħabba l-avveniment Museums by Candlelight li għandu jsir illejla r-Rabat u l-Imdina. Is-sigurtà u l-kumdità tal-viżitaturi, tal-impjegati u tal-mużiċisti huma l-prijorità tagħna.

Se nkomplu nanalizzaw is-sitwazzjoni u noħorġu aġġornament għall-ħabta tal-5.00pm, fejn nikkonfermaw jekk l-avveniment hux se jsir jew jitħassar.

Nitolbukom tiċċekkjaw il-pjattaformi soċjali tagħna għall-aħħar tagħrif qabel taqbdu t-triq lejn ir-Rabat.

Grazzi talli tifhmuna.

🇬🇧 🕯️ Museums by Candlelight – Keeping our fingers crossed about the weather!

We are closely monitoring the weather conditions ahead of this evening’s Museums by Candlelight in Rabat and Mdina. The safety and comfort of our visitors, staff and performers remain our priority.

We will continue to assess the situation and issue an update at around 5:00pm today confirming whether the event will go ahead or be cancelled.

We kindly ask you to check our social media channels for the latest information before making your way to the event.

Thank you for understanding.

18/09/2026

📢 Avviż għall-viżitaturi!

Nixtiequ navżawkom li nhar is-Sibt, 19 ta’ Settembru, se nagħlqu l-bibien tal-Katakombi ta’ San Pawl, tad-Domvs Romana u tal-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Istorja Naturali fir-Rabat u l-Imdina ftit qabel is-soltu, bi tħejjija għal Museums by Candlelight aktar t**d dakinhar filgħaxija.

🕓 It-tliet siti se jagħlqu fl-4:00pm, bl-aħħar dħul ikun fit-3:30pm.
🌙 Narawkom wara li jidlam!

📢 Visitor notice!

Heads up for Saturday, 19th September, as we’re closing the doors a little early at St Paul’s Catacombs, Domvs Romana and the National Museum of Natural History in Rabat and Mdina, in preparation for Museums by Candlelight later that evening.

🕓 The three sites will close at 4:00pm, with last admission at 3:30pm.
🌙 See you after dark!

18/09/2026

🇲🇹 Għada filgħaxija! 🕯️

✨ Is-Sibt, 19 ta’ Settembru, ilbes l-aktar żarbun komdu li għandek u ngħaqad magħna għall-aħħar edizzjoni ta’ ‘Museums by Candlelight’ għal din is-sena, fil-ġmiel tar-Rabat u l-Imdina.

Mis-7:00pm sa nofsillejl, skopri tliet siti storiċi f’atmosfera differenti għall-aħħar – għal €3 biss 🌙

🔗 Ikseb il-biljetti tiegħek minn hawn: https://heritagemalta.mt/store/c460/

🇬🇧 Tomorrow night! 🕯️

✨This Saturday, 19th September, get your comfiest shoes on and join us in this year’s last edition of ‘Museums by Candlelight’ in picturesque Rabat and Mdina. From 7pm until midnight, explore three historic sites in an entirely different light – all for just €3 🌙

🔗 Get your tickets here: https://heritagemalta.mt/store/c460/

18/09/2026

17/09/2026

🏛️ Ibda minn dar Rumana. Imbagħad inżel taħt l-art 🕯️ Agħlaq il-lejla f’palazz 🏰

📅 Is-Sibt, 19 ta’ Settembru, mis-7pm sa nofsillejl, Museums by Candlelight jieħdok mir-Rabat sal-Imdina f’mixja mhux tas-soltu matul il-lejl, b’kant u mużika live.

🎟️ Il-biljetti bi prezz speċjali jistgħu jinxtraw minn hawn: https://bit.ly/45GKb8T

🏛️ Start in a Roman home. Then go underground 🕯️ Finish in a palace 🏰

📅 On Saturday, 19 September, from 7pm to midnight, Museums by Candlelight takes you across Rabat and Mdina on an unusual night-time trail, with live music and performances along the way.

🎟️ Special-price tickets can be purchased here: https://bit.ly/45GKb8T

10/09/2026

🇲🇹 Il-Ħajja, il-Mewt u l-Ludi Romani 🏛️💀
Bejn is-7 u t-13 ta’ Settembru, ir-Rumani kienu jiċċelebraw il-Ludi Romani, festa reliġjuża importanti f’ġieħ Ġove, b’purċissjonijiet, sagrifiċċji u logħob pubbliku. 🐎🏺
Iżda r-ritwal Ruman kien jestendi lil hinn mill-ħajja u jidħol fid-dinja tal-mewt. Fil-Katakombi ta’ San Pawl, l-oqbra u t-triclinia funebri jfakkruna kif il-familji kienu jonoraw u jfakkru lill-mejtin permezz ta’ riti u ikliet kommemorattivi. 🪔🍷

🇬🇧 Life, Death & the Ludi Romani 🏛️💀
Between 7 and 13 September, the Romans celebrated the Ludi Romani, a major religious festival honouring Jupiter, with processions, sacrifices and public games. 🐎🏺
Roman ritual, however, extended beyond life and into death. At St Paul’s Catacombs, tombs and funerary dining areas (triclinia) remind us how families honoured and commemorated their dead through ritual and communal meals. 🪔🍷