One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (51)
Church and Monastery of St Ursula
The church is located within the insula (block) occupied by the monastery of cloistered nuns of St Ursula.
The church has a symmetrical façade and has a wide central bay flanked with narrower bays mainly consisting of pairs of panelled attached pilasters superimposed on two levels.
The monastery of St Ursula was founded in 1583 by Grandmaster Hugh Lubens de Verdalle. Parts of the monastery date back to 1595, but it was enlarged in 1759. The monastery was hit by aerial bombardment during World War II and suffered severe damages including the partial collapse of the church which was rebuilt. The rebuilt part is evident on the façade on Triq l-Arċisqof and on the main façade.
The church of the monastery boasts a masterpiece by Mattia Preti, depicting the martyrdom of Saint Ursula.
The coat-of-arms of Grand Master Pinto is on the corner of Triq it-Teatru l-Qadim and Triq il-Lvant at second floor level. The whole property was restored between 2006 and 2007.
Mepa scheduled the Church and Monastery of Saint Ursula as Grade 1 national monuments as per Government Notice No. 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28.