Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of the Maltese islands (47)

The chapel of San Mattew tal-Maqluba located in the limits of Qrendi is in actual fact a combination of two chapels, one of which is medieval while the other is of the Knights’ period.

The former, smaller chapel is known as San Mattew iż-Żgħir, which is in relatively good condition with its rear wall supported by a sloping buttress.

The apertures of this chapel are largely modified as the orignal were devoid of any decorations.

The interior of the chapel is a simple rectangular shape with one altar and a small apse decorated with a well-preserved fresco depicting a scallop shell.

This Christian symbol is probably 17th century or later and also features in the early Christian catacombs.

The latter chapel consists of a simple rectangular-shaped building with a single altar despite its considerable size. Entrance into the chapel is by means of three doors, one on the front and the other two at either of the chapel’s sides.

The chapel is connected to the smaller chapel and a sacristy that was built at a later date through two small doors at the sides of the main altar.

Above the main door, one can find organ galleries built by benefactors Dun Mikiel Zammit and Dun Gio Anton Spiteri bearing the date 1834. On April 12, 1942, the larger St Matthew chapel sustained considerable structural damage to its facade following a direct hit by cluster bombs dropped by enemy aircraft.

Mepa scheduled St Matthew’s Chapel as a Grade 1 national monument as per Government Notice no. 1138/08 in the Government Gazette dated December 19, 2008.