According to ancient legends, the ship that was carrying the Holy Apostle Paul to trial in Ancient Rome was wrecked off the coast of the island of Malta. The native islanders greeted the apostle with joy and were especially amazed by his miracles. He survived the bite of a deadly snake, healed the ruler, and then converted locals to the Christian faith, thereby becoming the founder of Christianity on the island of Malta. Like all Christian believers, Paul did not want to live in prosperity and settled in a cave. Later it was named in his honor, St. Paul's Grotto.

Above St. Paul's Grotto, there is a church consecrated in honor of the apostle. It was built in the middle of the 16th century and has always been under the protection of the Order of Malta. Thanks to the knights and their generous gifts, modern travelers can enjoy the delightful artworks and precious treasures that are kept within its walls. The grotto is also open to the public. It is accessed by stone stairs with seraphim on the sides. But the main attraction of the Christian world in Rabat is not the grotto or the church but a giant underground necropolis named St. Paul's Catacombs.

There is a whole underground city with mysterious mazes under the streets and houses of Rabat. Even the ancient Romans buried their soldiers who died in the Punic Wars here. The ancient burials were made until the Early Middle Ages: the latest ones date back to the 13th century. And although most of the tombs have long been emptied by archaeologists, some curious tourists still find ancient bones of the dead here.

Excavations within the catacombs have been conducted since the 19th century. As they still continue, most of the rooms are closed to the public. And no one knows how many more tombs are left in the bowels of the earth, hidden from human eyes.