Discover: The Dark Tourism of Malta
I recently returned from a 9 day stay in Malta. I've visited before but this was my first visit as a self-proclaimed dark tourist.
The History of Malta
In reality, a lot of dark tourism stems from the roots. So, here are a few notable facts about the history of Malta.
- Malta has a rich history that stems back to 5000BC. Malta was built on its farming industry. When visiting, you can still see that farming is still a very active part of Maltese culture. In this blog post you will see a brief glimpse of historic settlements on this small but thriving island.
- In the early 1800's, Britain ruled Malta for just over 100 years. Today, you can see flakes of British culture scattered across the island. However, Malta still retains its strong heritage.
- What about the Maltese Language? It is very interesting! The Maltese language is a Semitic language that was originally Arabic but it has since developed with influence from its western neighbours, Sicily. It is also the only Arabic language to be written in Latin.
A Wide View of St Paul's Catacombs in Malta
Discover: The Catacombs of Malta
To say I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Malta had its very own catacombs was an understatement. I was completely blown away on my first day here, when I found out that there are a lot more than just 1 catacomb system on the island.
What is a Catacomb?
A catacomb is an ancient resting place that has been discovered over time. They are man-made underground chambers that were used back in the day for people to mourn their loved ones. Think of it as an underground mausoleum.
List of Catacombs in Malta
Research suggests that there are hundreds of Catacombs in Malta. Though only a select few are openly publicised. All prices were recorded in December 2024.
- St. Paul's Catacombs, Rabat - Visited - You can find real bones here. (€6)
- St. Agatha's Catacombs, Rabat - Located over the road from St. Pauls - this was unfortunately closed when we visited. However, many reviews state that these are the best! (€5)
- Salina Catacombs - Situated in Naxxar (according to its address, but it's actually just outside St. Paul's Bay); this was the first one I visited, it is FREE.
- St Augustine's Catacombs – Rabat, Malta. (€4)
- Tal-Mintna Catacombs – Mqabba, Malta. - Normally closed, organized tours only.
- Ta' Bistra Catacombs – near Mosta, Malta.
- St. Cataldus Catacombs – Rabat, Malta
Edit: 10/12/2025 - After a recent visit back to Malta, I can confirm that St Agatha's Catacombs was an incredible visit. Without spoiling too much (nothing can be too spoilt, as photography isn't allowed!), you are taken on a 20 minute tour where you learn about the history of the Catacomb and you're able to not only see the incredible original paint work, but you can also see 2,000-year-old skeletal remains!
The only downfall is that, due to their age and relocation from many years ago, nobody knows who these people are.
Modern Burials in Malta
The island has a collective range of cemeteries decorated beautifully with statues and wonderful architecture. I have visited various cemeteries around the world - with Italy being the location of the first cemetery that fascinated me.
With Malta's rich connections to the England and Italy, I was intrigued to see the connections of both countries and just how it influenced their burial process.
I was very surprised to see that Maltese graveyards were like nothing I'd ever seen before. The cemeteries that I visited were all walled - this is similar to those in Italy. However, the difference was that each family grave was decorated with their own family headstones containing portraits (another common theme in Italy).
This was very interesting to see - most of these were guarded by an angel or statue.
Cemeteries I Visited:
- Ta Braxia Cemetery - This cemetery had a lot of English people in it that were mainly buried here during the war. The cemetery was beautifully accompanied by lots of beautiful palm trees and water fountains, all surrounded by a central church - a common theme of Maltese burial sites.
- Mellieha Cemetery - A well kept but small cemetery for local burials. Accompanied by a small chapel.
- St George Cemetery - Located in Naxxar, this quaint village cemetery is home to a curious feline, who I was lucky enough to get a photo of, whilst he/she was resting on a grave that had probably been warmed by the sun. In this graveyard in particular, I noticed a lot of the same statue.
- Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery - I was lucky enough to visit by far the most grand cemetery on the island. This cemetery is huge, its historic, it oozes with character, and it you absolutely need to put it on your list if you are planning a dark tourism visit to Malta. Oh, and just an FYI - The toilets are located in front of the cemetery gates, and it's quite difficult to get to by foot, but we managed it... legally... just about.
General Tourism of Malta
If you are looking for other tourism hot spots, great eateries, bars and picture spots - head on over to my other blog, where I went into detail about other aspects of my trip!
