Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1122280
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 MAY 2019 11 CULTURE NEXT Sunday, 2nd June, Heritage Malta is inviting the public to visit the remarkable catacombs of Abbatija Tad- Dejr in Rabat, Malta, at the price of €2. This site is not generally open to the public. During this event, Heritage Malta is collaborating with volun- teers from Malta Clean Up to clean the community gar- den which lies above these catacombs. The area of Rabat is re- nowned for its concentra- tions of catacombs, including those of the Abbatija tad- Dejr. Some of the rich decora- tions which have managed to survive to this day in these catacombs are witness to their original beauty and sig- nificance. The Abbatija tad-Dejr is an Early Christian site consist- ing of four hypogea (cham- bers) tunnelled next to each other in the rock face. In 1647, historian Giovanni Francesco Abela published a diagram of the main cata- comb and gave a vivid de- scription of the chapel, her- mitage and tombs which he noticed at this site. This documentation proved providential later on after this site went through several modifications, disturbances, abandonment, damage and vandalism. Guided tours will provide further insight about the origins of these catacombs, the different tombs found therein, the changing func- tions of this area, the cult- images painted on the walls, the decorative architectural motifs such as the palm fronds, the scallop shells, the fish-scale carvings and other religious symbols, and the in- triguing underground chapel which was embellished with outstanding frescoes and re- mained in use at least until the 16th century. The tours will run at 9.00am (Maltese), 10.00am (English), 11.00am (Maltese) and noon (English). Tickets at €2 can be pur- chased on site. For further information, visit www.heritagemalta.org Guided tours at Abbatija tad-Dejr Heritage Malta joins Malta Clean Up to clean the community garden located above the catacombs The Abbatija tad-Dejr is an Early Christian site consisting of four chambers tunnelled next to each other in the rock face