Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1127413
CULTURE maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JUNE 2019 6 ON Saturday 22 June, Herit- age Malta is organising an ex- ceptional guided tour to the archaeological site of San Pawl Milqi in Burmarrad and to the legendary St Paul's Islands located off Selmun. Accord- ing to tradition, both sites are directly linked to none other than the Apostle Paul himself at around A.D. 60. The site of San Pawl Milqi gets its name from the small chapel of San Pawl Milqi that replaced the 15th century chapel of St Paul Bindichi in the mid-17th century, both of which were built on the re- mains of a Roman villa. This villa is traditionally connect- ed with the house of Pub- lius, and therefore the place where St Paul was welcomed by the First Citizen. In the 1870s, the site was partially cleared by Vincen- zo Fenech. Military earth- works which were done in this area during the First World War led to consider- able damage. In the 1960s, the Italian Mission carried out further archaeological excavations which reflected the site's first attested use in the Neolithic and later in the Phoenicio-Punic period, as clearly evidenced by pot- tery remains and tombs. The villa had clear connections with oil production and is, in fact, the largest industri- al site dating to that period which can be found in the Maltese Islands. Tour participants will be presented with a guided tour of the archaeological site of San Pawl Milqi. This site is not usually open to the pub- lic. Attendees will then pro- ceed to the ferry which will take the group to St Paul's Islands for a tour. According to tradition, the ship on which the Apos- tle Paul was travelling was wrecked on these islands dur- ing a violent storm. A statue which was set up on the larg- est island commemorates this event. Participants can enjoy the rare opportunity to walk on these islands and to learn more about them dur- ing a guided tour. Transport will be provided between San Pawl Milqi and the ferry jetty, and back to San Pawl Milqi. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and bring food and drinks to be consumed dur- ing the tour. San Pawl Milqi is a bee- keeping site. Participants should refrain from wearing perfume, scented oils and shower products, and exces- sive sunblock. Attendees are also requested to keep away from the bee-keeping area and not to swat the bees. Price is set at €30 for adults, €25 for seniors and students, and €20 for Heritage Malta members and children. Tick- ets are available from all Her- itage Malta museums and sites, and online. The tour starts at 9am and ends at San Pawl Milqi at ap- proximately 3pm. More information is availa- ble on Heritage Malta's web- site www.heritagemalta.org Rare opportunity to visit San Pawl Milqi and St Paul's Islands