Though it does not appear the great saint ever visited the place, Heritage Malta on Sunday opened the gates to San Pawl Milqi, in Burmarrad, on the occasion of the feast of St Paul’s shipwreck.

While it is not that widely known, the area may well be one of the most significant on the islands as it contains the most extensive remains of a typical Roman villa.

“Although not quite known as other sites, the villa at San Pawl Milqi is one of the most important in Malta,” archaeologist and senior curator David Cardona notes.

Occupied for at least six centuries, from the second century BC to the fourth century AD, the villa was excavated by the Missione Archeologica a Malta (an Italian team that had been invited by the Ministry of Education to value the archaeological potential of the islands) between the 1960s and early 1970s.

Studies resumed again by the same team in the mid-1990s but stopped after a few years and there are no ongoing excavations at the moment.

Mr Cardona says the large establishment was a villa agraria, a villa related to agricultural production, mainly olive oil.

“For such a villa, it was necessary to have a production area − which is still well-preserved at San Pawl Milqi − and a residential zone, part of which was identified but is not as well preserved,” he points out.

Various stone implements related to the production of oil were found on site. These include examples of a trapetum, an olive pipper used to separate the olive pip from the pulp. An almost complete trapetum was found and another one survived in fragments.

The San Pawl Milqi site in Burmarrad contains the most extensive remains of a typical Roman villa on the islands.

Provision of better visitor amenities

There were also the remains of a press, which was used to force the oil out of the pulp. The anchoring weights of at least two levers and the remains of two corresponding press beds were dug up.

Settling vats, a number of interconnecting vats meant to purify the oil, were unearthed too.

“This means that the area must have contained a large tract of land covered with olives, of which the olives at Bidnija may have somehow formed part,” noted Mr Cardona.

The living quarters of the villa are indicated by fragments of fine wall paintings, which depict imitation marble and floral designs.

Even though there is no evidence that St Paul ever visited the place, the San Pawl Milqi chapel attracted considerable interest from those who have at heart the Pauline cult and tradition.

According to Mr Cardona the present temple was built in the mid-1600s, a period when the local government (the Knights) was battling the European idea that Malta was African.

“The strengthening of the tradition that Malta was one of the first places where Paul introduced Christianity was, thus, a strong means of making Malta a strong Catholic country, thus European. The building of this church was, therefore, part of this movement towards the inclusion of Malta as a European country,” Mr Cardona remarks.

The chapel has no great artistry, as was common among such rural places built at the time. It underwent a series of changes through the years but very little is known about the interventions. Heritage Malta is restoring the outer facades.

“This is the first step in a long-term project that will seek the full restoration of the site, conservation of the Roman remains and the provision of better visitor amenities,” the curator says.

Visitors were yesterday able to attend Mass at the chapel, take guided tours and also attend honey-making demonstrations.

“Beekeeping has always been important in Malta and Heritage Malta, along with Golden Island, has decided to use some of the less-frequented sites for the production of honey,” Mr Cardona said.

“This is making good use of the site through something local and traditional, while providing a small income to the agency.”

Yesterday, visitors attended Mass at the San Pawl Milqi chapel on the occasion of the feast of St Paul.