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Post mortem est nulla voluptas
One of the numerous marble tombstones in St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina, Malta.
The St. Paul's Cathedral is the architectural crown of the elegant, walled city of Mdina. A late 17th century masterpiece of Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa', it lies on the site of a much earlier Norman church that was destroyed by the violent earthquake of 1693. According to tradition, the earlier church had been built on the site of the house of Publius, the Roman's chief man on the Islands, who was converted to Christianity by St. Paul in A.D. 60.
Lovers of church architecture will definitely admire the cathedral's exterior for its simple but imposing design. More admirable is however the cathedral's vast interior which houses lavish displays of marble, splendid ceiling frescoes and a profusion of artistic works in silver and wood.
Once inside, the first thing that strikes the attention of visitors is the splendid array of fine marble tombstones that cover completely the floor of the cathedral. Decorated with coloured inserts of rich Italian marble and artistic displays of first-class workmanship, they echo more than 300 years of history. Examine the epitaphs written in Latin on the gravestones and you will find out numerous names of former Maltese bishops, barons and noblemen who have in some way or another contributed towards the embellishment of the cathedral.
Post mortem est nulla voluptas
One of the numerous marble tombstones in St. Paul's Cathedral in Mdina, Malta.
The St. Paul's Cathedral is the architectural crown of the elegant, walled city of Mdina. A late 17th century masterpiece of Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa', it lies on the site of a much earlier Norman church that was destroyed by the violent earthquake of 1693. According to tradition, the earlier church had been built on the site of the house of Publius, the Roman's chief man on the Islands, who was converted to Christianity by St. Paul in A.D. 60.
Lovers of church architecture will definitely admire the cathedral's exterior for its simple but imposing design. More admirable is however the cathedral's vast interior which houses lavish displays of marble, splendid ceiling frescoes and a profusion of artistic works in silver and wood.
Once inside, the first thing that strikes the attention of visitors is the splendid array of fine marble tombstones that cover completely the floor of the cathedral. Decorated with coloured inserts of rich Italian marble and artistic displays of first-class workmanship, they echo more than 300 years of history. Examine the epitaphs written in Latin on the gravestones and you will find out numerous names of former Maltese bishops, barons and noblemen who have in some way or another contributed towards the embellishment of the cathedral.