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The
history of St. Paul's Bay goes back to prehistoric times, c. 6000
B.C. It was the home of the fruit-gatherer, hunter and fisherman.
Their graves dating c. 3800 B.C. exist on Mistra Ridge Xemxija.
NEOLITHIC
PERIOD (C. 3800 - 2800 B.C.)
The remains of megaliths temples exist at Bugibba engulfed within
the New Dolmen Hotel, another at Tal-Qadi close to Salina, and a
third on the Mistra Ridge overlooking Xemxija 500 m. west of the
graves mentioned above. The Qadi died and was buried 3800 years
ago in one of these graves.
BRONZE
AGE (2500 - 1200 B.C.)
With the coming of Bronze Age Man from Italy, Malta, including the
area around St. Paul's Bay became the "Island Fortress",
fortified villages were set up, including one at Wardija Hill, another
on Qala and a third at Bajda Ridge, (Xemxija). Cart-ruts of this
period can be seen at Salina, Wardija, St. Paul's Bay, Mistra Ridge
(Xemxija), San Martin and other places - signs of great activity
in the area.
PHOENICIAN
& CARTHAGINIAN (C. 800 - 218 B.C.)
The Phoenicians used these ports for the purchase and sale of various
products and for the provision of water from the various springs
that abound in the area like the one at Mistra, Ghajn Razul, ZafZafa
and Tal-Mahruq. When they built Rabat, (their town surrounded by
bastions) where Rabat and Mdina now stand, Qawra and St. Paul's
Bay, (also known as Id-Dahla tal-Gorf), increased in importance,
they being the nearest available ports. This role continued for
hundreds of years until Valletta was built. Carthaginian (Punic)
graves are very common at Wardija Ridge, San Martin and Bajda Ridge
(Xemxija).
ROMAN
- BYZANTINE PERIOD (218 B.C. - 870 A.D.)
In 218 B.C. the Romans took over the Island. Retaining Mdina as
their main city, St. Paul's Bay and Salina Bay were the two nearest
safe harbours where their ships anchored. Various Roman lead anchors
were discovered in these bays, together with a variety of pottery
like amphorae, jars, jugs etc. In Xemxija there exist the original
kerbing stones of a Roman road, and in the Sirens area one finds
a number
of rock-cut pools possibly dating from Roman times. It is said the
salt-pans at Bugibba could also date back to that period.
St. Paul's
Shipwreck took place here in 60 A.D. and tradition holds that Publius,
the Roman Governor, had his villa in Burmarrad. A late Roman Christian
catacomb can be seen at Salina by the Chapel of the Annunciation.
Of great importance are the Roman Villa & Thermae (Ghajn Tuffieha)
These baths were built at the head of the spring, (which gave the
name to the bay known as 'Golden Bay'), which gushes out at a daily
rate of 360,000 litres of water. The villa and baths were built
for a person of sophisticated tastes as is evidenced by the beautiful
mosaic floors of the tepidarium and frigidarium. The baths had the
caldarium and piscina paved with mosaic and lozenge tiles.
ARAB
PERIOD (870 -1091 A.D.)
In August 870 A.D., the Arabs landed at St. Paul's Bay and proceeded
to capture the island of Malta after having captured Gozo. Although
St. Paul's Bay was their port of call being closest to Mdina no
Arab remains were found at St. Paul's Bay. Yet there is one look-out
situated at Tunny Street, which may go back to this period.
NORMAN
PERIOD (1091 - 1194)
In 1091 Count Roger of Normandy staged a mock attack from St. Paul's
Bay to draw the Arab forces, whilst his men attacked Mdina from
the opposite side and took over the Island. Tradition has it that
we owe the Maltese flag to Count Roger whose flag, that of the Hauteville
family, consisted of a series of red and white squares.
ARAGONESE
& CASTILLIAN PERIOD (1284 - 1530)
It was from off St. Paul's Bay that the Aragonese fleet in 1283
ventured into the Grand Harbour where they ousted the Angevin fleet
at St. Angelo. Thus the Maltese islands passed in the hands of the
Aragonese. Between 1283 and 1530 Christian and Moslem pirates landed
frequently in these bays, proceeding inland for slaves and booty.
The largest landing at St. Paul's Bay and Salina was the one which
took
place between the 23 - 26 September 1429 when 70 galleys with 18,000
Moslems under the guidance of Qaiq Ridwan, landed, ransacked the
countryside and captured 10,000 Maltese slaves. From that year onwards
St. Paul's Bay and all the north coast of the island was considered
as "uninhabitable".
KNIGHTS
OF ST. JOHN (1530 - 1798)
During the first 60 years of their rule over Malta, the Knights
of St. John did nothing to defend the north coast of Malta. Previous
to the Great Siege Grand Master La Vallette constructed the Salt-pans
at Salina, to replace a more exposed set at Mellieha close to Ghadira
Bay. The salt produced then exceeded local consumption; thus it
was exported to different countries.
The Salina works fell in disuse in 1798 but were repaired by the
British
administration and proved very profitable in the early 19 Century.
It was at St. Paul's Bay that on the 1 August 1565 the Maltese Cavalry
under
Boisberton, a knight of Malta, ambushed the crew of a Moslem galley
who were filling their casks with water from the spring at Ghajn
Rasul. The Maltese killed two and captured three. On interrogating
them, Mesquita, the Governor of Mdina, discovered that on the morrow
the Moslems intended to have a full-scale attack on Forth St. Michael
(Senglea). A Maltese messenger passed this information during the
night to the Grandmaster.
On the 8 - 9
September the Moslem fleet left Marsamxett harbour and sailed towards
Salina and St. Paul's Bay, where the Moslem Cavalry and footmen
were retreating.
Mustafa Pasha
wanted to attack a relief force and so put his army ashore and marched
it inland. But his soldiers turned and fled before the first charge
of the relief force and many were massacred on the shore as they
tried to scramble into the boats. On the 11 September 1565 the fleet
left St. Paul's Bay and the Great Siege was over.
The need was felt by the Knights to offer protection to the bay
and so they strengthened it by means of forts, trenches, batteries,
redoubts and even towers. Grandmaster Wignacourt in 1610 built the
St. Paul's Bay Tower. Another tower was built at Qawra in 1637,
The Mistra Battery in 1653 and in 1715 2 Redoubts were also built
in Xemxija Bay. Two fougasses were dug on either side of the entrance
to
Salina Bay.
FRENCH
PERIOD (1798 - 1800)
At dawn on Sunday, 10 June 1798, General Baraguey d'Hilliers, with
his Genoese squadron, landed his men at Mellieha and St. Paul's
Bay, capturing 150 prisoners. On the 13 of the same month many French
ships entered St. Paul's Bay for water and provisioned themselves
and then proceeded towards Egypt. It is said that they desecrated
the country Chapels in the area and stole the few valuables they
possessed. The Chapel of St. Ann of Pwales is such an example and
was used as a slaughterhouse. Tradition has it that slaughtered
bulls and sheep were hung from the orange trees still existing.
It is also said that the French fired against the chapel's door
and the window which still shows signs of vandalism committed by
the French bayonets.
The Maltese uprising against the napoleonic forces took place on
the 2 September of the same year. One of the first places occupied
and defended was St. Paul's Bay. They defended the Qawra Tower,
(Ta' Fra Ben), Wignacourt's tower and St. Paul's Bay throughout
the two years of the blockade. Marsaxlokk and St. Paul's Bay were
the only two places here English and Portuguese soldiers, arms ammunition,
food supplies and corn were landed.
It was within the Chapel of "San Pawl Milqghi" at Burmarrad
that on the 1 of February 1799 a summit meeting was held between
Alexander John Ball, His Lieu. Captain John Vivion, Captain John
Cresswell of the Marines and the Maltese leaders. They discussed
the problem of some bribed Maltese persons who were expelled by
the French from Valletta to infiltrate and create amongst the Maltese
a political party in favour of the French.
BRITISH
PERIOD (1800 - 1964)
…5 September 1800 …the day the French surrendered, Captain
George Martin on H.M.S. Northumberland left St. Paul's Bay and proceeded
to the Grand Harbour to take over the French warship anchored within
the creeks therein. St. Paul's Bay and the Second World War During
the 19 Century, a number of villas belonging to well to do inhabitants
of Malta
were built at St. Paul's Bay. Throughout the Second World War most
of these villas were requisitioned by the services. St. Paul's bay
became "one giant rest camp".
An air-sea rescue base was stationed in the area. All the beachposts
from Mistra to Qawra point were manned by the Manchesters. From
Mid-May till the beginning of June 1943, every nook and corner of
St. Paul's Bay was crammed by the 8 Army and the Americans, in preparation
for the invasion of Sicily. On 6 June 1943 St. Paul's Bay was clear
of seacraft and soldiers, "Operation HUSKY" was on. On
the 8 September 1943, the day Italy surrendered 76 ships of the
Italian fleet anchored under the guns dominating St. Paul's Bay.Ever
since our bays have only been used peacefully. Many tourists and
Maltese bathe in the clear blue sea. Our sea is dotted by boats
of all shapes and sizes.
LATEST
EVENTS
25 May 1990 - His Holiness Pope John Paul II paid a three-day
visit to our islands. Unfortunately his passage through St. Paul's
Bay can only be described as a flash of lightning. His holiness
not in the Pope-mobile as expected went by so fast that only a handful
of the thousands present managed to get a glimpse of Him. In the
afternoon on his way back from Gozo he stopped off St. Paul's Islands
were he blessed a statue of Jesus before this was laid down on the
sea bottom. His Holiness then proceeded towards the Grand Harbour
to be greeted by thousands of people waiting for his arrival.
Thursday 8 August 1991 - Two Albanian refugee ships tried
to find a haven in Malta. The two ships, Durresi and Lirija, were
carrying about 400 and 200 half-clad refugees. Despite various warnings
from the Maltese Authorities to remain outside territorial waters,
the Durresi headed straight for the Grand Harbour. Off St. George's
Bay some Albanians tried to swim ashore but were rounded up by the
police. The ship was then led to anchor at St. Paul's Bay with Lirija
following suit.
Friday 9 August 1991 - The Durresi passengers accepted to
provisions and sailed out of St. Paul's Bay to an unknown destination.
The second Albanian ship refused the provisions. On Saturday, hungry
and tired they were brought ashore, fed and then voluntarily agreed
to be repatriated. Unfortunately being such a small country we could
not extend our hospitality and help them in their dilemma. I am
sure most of us would have liked to give a helping hand to these
unfortunate people but our resources are limited and we could not
provide home and work for these refugees and other who would follow.
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