Malta, Including Gozo & Comino (Page 3 of 8)
Quick links to other Malta pages and/or sections Here
Paola is a largely residential town located in the Southern Harbour region of Malta, about 3 miles (5 km) south of the capital city, Valletta. It is known for its accessibility and local lifestyle and serves as a central hub for the surrounding areas, offering a more everyday Maltese experience away from the more tourist-heavy destinations.
Paola Parish Church
Paola Parish Church (shown below), dedicated to Christ the King, is one of the town’s main landmarks. Built in the early 20th century, it features a prominent dome and a spacious interior that reflects traditional Maltese church architecture. It remains an important religious and community centre for local residents.
Paola Shopping Mall
Paola Shopping Mall provides a convenient retail space for locals, offering a range of shops, services, and everyday essentials. While not as large as some of Malta’s major shopping centres, it plays an important role in serving the needs of the surrounding community.
The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a multi-level subterranean burial site located up to 10.6 meters (about 35 feet) below street level in Paola. Carved entirely using stone and bone tools, it is one of the most remarkable prehistoric monuments in Malta and the central Mediterranean. Its three underground levels contain chambers dating from the early 4th to the early 3rd millennium BC, reflecting the development of Malta's late Neolithic culture.
Above: Entrance to the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
The site was discovered in 1902, with early excavations led by Fr Emmanuel Magri and later by Sir Themistocles Zammit. Further investigations in the 1990s clarified the sequence of construction. While many chambers are simple and oval, others imitate above-ground megalithic structures, offering insight into prehistoric architectural techniques. Burials were placed in dark soil along with pendants, pottery, and stone statuettes. The most famous find is the "Sleeping Lady", a small figurine thought to symbolise death or the afterlife (on view at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta). Red ochre wall paintings survive in some chambers, representing the only known Neolithic wall paintings in Malta.
Above: Plan of Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum — Manwel Magri (public domain). Source: Wikimedia Commons (File: Plan Magri Hal Salflieni.jpg)
Above: The Sleeping Lady of Ħal Saflieni — photo by Jan van der Crabben (Jvdc), licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons (File: The Sleeping Lady, 2009.jpg)
Above: Photograph of the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni — by Richard Ellis, public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons (File:Photo Ellis Hal Salflieni.jpg)
The Hypogeum underwent extensive conservation to stabilise temperature and humidity. Today it is the only accessible prehistoric burial site in Malta and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its unique testimony to a vanished civilisation. Visits are limited to 80 per day and online booking well in advance is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. To help preserve the site, no photography is allowed inside. A QR code is provided to visitors when exiting to download some photos of the site from. Whilst this website normally uses original photographs from the author, there is thus an exception here and public domain Wikimedia photos have been included with credits.
Above: Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum – Upper Level — photo by Frank Vincentz, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Source: Wikimedia Commons (File: Hal_Saflieni_Hypogeum_–_Upper_Level.jpg)
Above: Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum – Middle Level – The Holy of Holies — photo by Frank Vincentz, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Source: Wikimedia Commons (File: Hal_Saflieni_Hypogeum_–_Middle_Level_–_The_Holy_of_Holies.jpg)
Above: Hypogée Ħal Saflieni — photo by Herbert List, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Source: Wikimedia Commons (File: Hypogée_Hal_Saflieni.jpg)
Link to Next Page (Page 4 of 8)
Link to Previous Page (Page 2 of 8)
Back to Top
