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St. Paul's Bay is a typical old-world Mediterranean fishing village situated in the north of Malta. Although it now boasts of all modern amenities such as shops, banks, a post-office, several restaurants specialising in local cuisine, pubs and open-air cafes, it still retains its old-world charm. The bay itself, which is enclosed, is the perfect setting for all water-sports enthusiasts. Windsurfers and water-skiers mingle with the traditional colourful Maltese fishing-boats. Further out one can see two islands which are of great historical importance since it was here that St. Paul was shipwrecked in AD 60. |
The area is of particular significance to the Maltese and Christians for it was here that St Paul landed after being ship-wrecked en route to Rome where he was due to be beheaded. History here dates back even further and ancient relics such as Neolithic stone circles and salt pans can also be seen in various locations around the bay.
St Paul’s Bay is a popular tourist area for the Maltese (many of whom have summer houses here) and the British. This combination ensures that students will have plenty of opportunity for speaking English outside school hours.
Over the last twenty years, the popularity of St Paul’s Bay has led to an influx of tourists. Indeed, the adjacent tourist resorts of Bugibba and Qawra sprang up to cope with the demand.
The area now boasts a vast range of tourist facilities to accommodate visitors’ requirements.
Bars, nightclubs, a cinema, a casino, waterfront beach-clubs, restaurants, and cafes provide entertainment while necessary facilities such as banks, post offices, doctor’s clinics and pharmacies are all within easy walking distance from the school.
Alpha School of English is situated just 3 minutes away from the sea front promenade. The school is close to the main bus routes and is easily reached from Bugibba, Xemxija, Mosta, Mellieha and Qawra.
Situated above Sirens Water polo club is the oldest tower in Malta. Built by the Grand Master Wignacourt the tower was completed in 1609. Initially it was designed to deprive pirates and corsairs of the use of inlets. Eventually the tower became part of a series of seven towers that protected the island and made it difficult to invade.
The tower is simple but it was extremely effective. The strong square tower with thick sloping walls meant it could withstand bombardment from land or sea. Over the years additions and improvements were made.
Today there is an interesting, if small, museum and the chance to climb up onto the battlements with a spectacular view over the bay to St. Paul's Island.
The present structure of the Church was started in 1950 and completed in 1956. However there has been a church on this site for some considerable time.
According to tradition the site of the church is where a fire was lit to warm the survivors of a shipwreck in 60 AD. Included among those survivors was St.Paul who was on his way to stand trial in Rome.
There are stories of a church being built on the site in the first century that was destroyed by the Arabs in 870 AD. There are no records to support this belief but there are some later details confirming there was a church on this site in the early 15th century.
Mention was made of the church during the building of Wignacourt Tower in the early 17th century and in fact Grand Master Wignacourt enlarged and improved the existing church. Part of theses improvements included three paintings for the church. Cassarino, an Italian heavily influenced by Caravaggio, was the artist. The largest of the paintings shows the landing of St. Paul and the other survivors with the shipwreck in the background. This church was completely destroyed in the Second World War but miraculously the paintings survived.
The sheltered bay of St. Paul’s offers good open water diving with plenty of local sea life ideal for the beginning diver. St.Paul's Islet has a reef that starts at 5 metres and runs as deep as 35 metres. There are a number of dive shops in the area and they provide for all levels of experience.
