Visit to St Dominic’s Priory & Church of Our Lady of the Grotto (Madonna tal-Għar)

In its quest to take its members to little-known heritage sites, FAA is organising a tour of St Dominic’s Priory in Rabat, a historic and religious gem.

The Dominicans arrived in Malta around 1450, and soon started to build their Priory near a Rabat grotto where, according to legend, the Madonna had appeared to a local hunter. Completed in the early 16th century, the Priory suffered greatly a few decades later when the Ottomans used it as a fortified point for attacking Mdina. The 1630 reconstruction gave the Priory its form of a traditional medieval fortification complete with a spacious courtyard with a small garden, fountains, large sundials dating to 1717 and a wide arched colonnade which we shall enjoy strolling around.

St Dominic’s Priory houses one of Malta’s major relics – a marble statue of the Virgin Mary said to shed tears of blood, which has made the church of Our Lady of the Grotto a destination of mass pilgrimage.

Early booking until Sunday 9th February 2020 for FAA paid-up members as our previous tour was fully booked within 8 hours! You can join FAA or renew your membership using this link.

DATE/TIME: Saturday 15th February at 2.30pm (please arrive by 2.15pm)
VENUE: Dominican Priory main door at MisraGħ San Duminku. Bus no 133, 52/53
BOOKINGS: Online here.
DONATION: €15, which includes a €3 donation towards the Priory’s restoration fund.

Visit to St Dominic’s Priory & Church of Our Lady of the Grotto (Madonna tal-Għar)

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