NEOLITHIC PERIOD (C. 3800 - 2800 B.C.)
The remains of megaliths temples exist at Bugibba engulfed within the New Dolmen Hotel, another at Tal-Qadi close to Salina, and a third on the Mistra Ridge overlooking Xemxija 500 m. west of the graves mentioned above. The Qadi died and was buried 3800 years ago in one of these graves.
BRONZE AGE (2500 - 1200 B.C.)
With the coming of Bronze Age Man from Italy, Malta, including the area around St. Paul's Bay became the "Island Fortress", fortified villages were set up, including one at Wardija Hill, another on Qala and a third at Bajda Ridge, (Xemxija). Cart-ruts of this period can be seen at Salina, Wardija, St. Paul's Bay, Mistra Ridge (Xemxija), San Martin and other places - signs of great activity in the area.
PHOENICIAN & CARTHAGINIAN (C. 800 - 218 B.C.)
The Phoenicians used these ports for the purchase and sale of various products and for the provision of water from the various springs that abound in the area like the one at Mistra, Ghajn Razul, ZafZafa and Tal-Mahruq. When they built Rabat, (their town surrounded by bastions) where Rabat and Mdina now stand, Qawra and St. Paul's Bay, (also known as Id-Dahla tal-Gorf), increased in importance, they being the nearest available ports. This role continued for hundreds of years until Valletta was built. Carthaginian (Punic) graves are very common at Wardija Ridge, San Martin and Bajda Ridge (Xemxija).
ROMAN - BYZANTINE PERIOD (218 B.C. - 870 A.D.)
In 218 B.C. the Romans took over the Island. Retaining Mdina as their main city, St. Paul's Bay and Salina Bay were the two nearest safe harbours where their ships anchored. Various Roman lead anchors were discovered in these bays, together with a variety of pottery like amphorae, jars, jugs etc. In Xemxija there exist the original kerbing stones of a Roman road, and in the Sirens area one finds a number of rock-cut pools possibly dating from Roman times. It is said the salt-pans at Bugibba could also date back to that period.
St. Paul's Shipwreck took place here in 60 A.D. and tradition holds that Publius, the Roman Governor, had his villa in Burmarrad. A late Roman Christian catacomb can be seen at Salina by the Chapel of the Annunciation. Of great importance are the Roman Villa & Thermae (Ghajn Tuffieha) These baths were built at the head of the spring, (which gave the name to the bay known as 'Golden Bay'), which gushes out at a daily rate of 360,000 litres of water. The villa and baths were built for a person of sophisticated tastes as is evidenced by the beautiful mosaic floors of the tepidarium and frigidarium. The baths had the caldarium and piscina paved with mosaic and lozenge tiles.
ARAB PERIOD (870 -1091 A.D.)
In August 870 A.D., the Arabs landed at St. Paul's Bay and proceeded to capture the island of Malta after having captured Gozo. Although St. Paul's Bay was their port of call being closest to Mdina no Arab remains were found at St. Paul's Bay. Yet there is one look-out situated at Tunny Street, which may go back to this period.
NORMAN PERIOD (1091 - 1194)
In 1091 Count Roger of Normandy staged a mock attack from St. Paul's Bay to draw the Arab forces, whilst his men attacked Mdina from the opposite side and took over the Island. Tradition has it that we owe the Maltese flag to Count Roger whose flag, that of the Hauteville family, consisted of a series of red and white squares. Whilst in Malta, Count Roger restored the chapel dedicated to St Paul, which in those times stood close to where now we see the Wigniacourt Tower.
ARAGONESE & CASTILLIAN PERIOD (1284 - 1530)
It was from off St. Paul's Bay that the Aragonese fleet in 1283 ventured into the Grand Harbour where they ousted the Angevin fleet at St. Angelo. Thus the Maltese islands passed in the hands of the Aragonese. Between 1283 and 1530 Christian and Moslem pirates landed frequently in these bays, proceeding inland for slaves and booty. The largest landing at St. Paul's Bay and Salina was the one which took place between the 23 - 26 September 1429 when 70 galleys with 18,000 Moslems under the guidance of Qaiq Ridwan, landed, ransacked the countryside and captured 10,000 Maltese slaves. From that year onwards St. Paul's Bay and all the north coast of the island was considered as "uninhabitable".
KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN (1530 - 1798)
During the first 60 years of their rule over Malta, the Knights of St. John did nothing to defend the north coast of Malta. Previous to the Great Siege Grand Master La Vallette constructed the Salt-pans at Salina, to replace a more exposed set at Mellieha close to Ghadira Bay. The salt produced then exceeded local consumption; thus it was exported to different countries.
The Salina works fell in disuse in 1798 but were repaired by the British administration and proved very profitable in the early 19 Century. It was at St. Paul's Bay that on the 1 August 1565 the Maltese Cavalry under Boisberton, a knight of Malta, ambushed the crew of a Moslem galley who were filling their casks with water from the spring at Ghajn Rasul. The Maltese killed two and captured three. On interrogating them, Mesquita, the Governor of Mdina, discovered that on the morrow the Moslems intended to have a full-scale attack on Forth St. Michael (Senglea). A Maltese messenger passed this information during the night to the Grandmaster. On the 8 - 9 September the Moslem fleet left Marsamxett harbour and sailed towards Salina and St. Paul's Bay, where the Moslem Cavalry and footmen were retreating. Mustafa Pasha wanted to attack a relief force and so put his army ashore and marched it inland. But his soldiers turned and fled before the first charge of the relief force and many were massacred on the shore as they tried to scramble into the boats. On the 11 September 1565 the fleet left St. Paul's Bay and the Great Siege was over.
The need was felt by the Knights to offer protection to the bay and so they strengthened it by means of forts, trenches, batteries, redoubts and even towers. Grandmaster Wignacourt in 1610 built the St. Paul's Bay Tower. Another tower was built at Qawra in 1637, The Mistra Battery in 1653 and in 1715 2 Redoubts were also built in Xemxija Bay. Two fougasses were dug on either side of the entrance to Salina Bay.
FRENCH PERIOD (1798 - 1800)
At dawn on Sunday, 10 June 1798, General Baraguey d'Hilliers, with his Genoese squadron, landed his men at Mellieha and St. Paul's Bay, capturing 150 prisoners. On the 13 of the same month many French ships entered St. Paul's Bay for water and provisioned themselves and then proceeded towards Egypt. It is said that they desecrated the country Chapels in the area and stole the few valuables they possessed. The Chapel of St. Ann of Pwales is such an example and was used as a slaughterhouse. Tradition has it that slaughtered bulls and sheep were hung from the orange trees still existing. It is also said that the French fired against the chapel's door and the window which still shows signs of vandalism committed by the French bayonets.
The Maltese uprising against the napoleonic forces took place on the 2 September of the same year. One of the first places occupied and defended was St. Paul's Bay. They defended the Qawra Tower, (Ta' Fra Ben), Wignacourt's tower and St. Paul's Bay throughout the two years of the blockade. Marsaxlokk and St. Paul's Bay were the only two places here English and Portuguese soldiers, arms ammunition, food supplies and corn were landed.
It was within the Chapel of "San Pawl Milqi" at Burmarrad that on the 1 of February 1799 a summit meeting was held between Alexander John Ball, His Lieu. Captain John Vivion, Captain John Cresswell of the Marines and the Maltese leaders. They discussed the problem of some bribed Maltese persons who were expelled by the French from Valletta to infiltrate and create amongst the Maltese a political party in favour of the French.
BRITISH PERIOD (1800 - 1964)
5 September 1800 …the day the French surrendered, Captain George Martin on H.M.S. Northumberland left St. Paul's Bay and proceeded to the Grand Harbour to take over the French warship anchored within the creeks therein. St. Paul's Bay and the Second World War During the 19 Century, a number of villas belonging to well to do inhabitants of Malta were built at St. Paul's Bay. Throughout the Second World War most of these villas were requisitioned by the services. St. Paul's bay became "one giant rest camp".
An air-sea rescue base was stationed in the area. All the beachposts from Mistra to Qawra point were manned by the Manchesters. On the 10th March 1942, the Chapel of St Paul and the Chapel of St Anne where hit by bombs dropped in an air raid, the first being restored by the War Damage Funds in the 1950's. In June 1942 a branch of the Victory Kitchen opened in St Paul's Bay. From Mid-May till the beginning of June 1943, every nook and corner of St. Paul's Bay was crammed by the 8 Army and the Americans, in preparation for the invasion of Sicily. On 6 June 1943 St. Paul's Bay was clear of seacraft and soldiers, "Operation HUSKY" was on. On the 8 September 1943, the day Italy surrendered 76 ships of the Italian fleet anchored under the guns dominating St. Paul's Bay.Ever since our bays have only been used peacefully. Many tourists and Maltese bathe in the clear blue sea. Our sea is dotted by boats of all shapes and sizes.
The Second World War left fourteen victims in St Paul's Bay, the last two being Bertu and Tumas, who where accidentally killed by a bomb, left over from the war, in 1961