Originally a small chamber, the crypt of St Agatha, in Rabat, and the underground chapel, hewn from live rock, were enlarged in the early Middle Ages.

According to the legend, the young Agatha sought refuge in Malta to escape persecution. A few months later, she returned to her native country, where she was tortured and killed for her faith in 251AD. The crypt was kept sacred in her honour.

Frescoes of saints were painted in 1200AD, while another 29, attributed to Salvatore D'Antonio from Messina, were added in 1480AD.

The crypt's main altar was built over another rock altar in 1666AD to accommodate the alabaster statue of St Agatha, which is now exhibited at St Agatha's Museum.

The catacombs, dug in the limestone rock, cover an area of 4,100 square metres.

Dating back to the second and third centuries AD, they contain hundreds of tombs of varying shapes and sizes, including two fine graves, embellished with frescoes and dating back to the fourth century ad.

Malta's earliest church to be cut out of the rock is reached through narrow, low passages. The semicircular chapel is decorated by a frieze, pillars and capitals.

The most important fresco in the middle of the chapel dates back to the fourth century ad, and was restored in 2000.

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