Collegiate Parish Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck

One of the oldest churches in Valletta, Malta

The Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul's Shipwreck is one of Valletta’s oldest churches, dating back to the 1570s.

Many consider St. Paul to be the spiritual father of the Maltese nation. In fact, his shipwreck is thought of as being the most significant event in the nation's history. Thus,The Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul's Shipwrec is amongst the most important churches in Malta.

There are artistic treasures including the outstanding altarpiece by Matteo Perez d'Aleccio, the choir and dome of Lorenzo Gafa, the paintings by Attilio Palombi and Giuseppe Cali. The wooden statue of St. Paul was carved in 1657 by Melchior Gafà. Up till this day, the statue is taken out in a procession around Valletta on the feast day of St Paul's Shipwreck, every February 10th. The church holds the precious relic of the right wrist-bone of St. Paul as well as part of the column that was used to behead the St. Paul in Rome.