Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

St Agatha's chapel, Mdina

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Location
  
Mdina

Denomination
  
Roman Catholic

Dedication
  
Saint Agatha

Architectural style
  
Baroque architecture

Architect
  
Lorenzo Gafà

Country
  
Malta

Founded
  
1417

Dedicated
  
28 June 1695

Archbishop
  
Charles Scicluna

St Agatha's chapel, Mdina

Address
  
Triq Inguanez, L-Imdina, Malta

Archdiocese
  
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta

Similar
  
St Roque's Chapel (aka Our, St Agatha's Historical, Greeks Gate, National Museum of Natural H, Palazzo Vilhena

The Chapel of St Agatha is a small Roman Catholic church located in the medieval city of Mdina, Malta.

History

The present structure dates from the 17th century however a much older church existed on its site. The original medieval chapel was built in 1417 by a nobleman Francesco Gattoand his wife Paola de' Castelli. On 22 January 1575 the chapel was visited by Bishop Pietro Dusina on his apostolic visit to Malta. Prior to 1661 the chapel was owned by the Gatto Murina family. In 1661 the chapel was given to the church in Malta. The medieval chapel was damaged in the 1693 Sicily earthquake which destroyed much of Mdina including the medieval cathedral.

The new chapel was built on designs by renowned architect Lorenzo Gafà. The chapel was blessed by the Archdeacon Antonio Cauchi in the presence of Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri and the Grand Master Adrien de Wignacourt, on 26 June 1696.

The titular painting depicts St Agatha, patroness of Malta, together with St Adrian, the work of Giuseppe D'Arena.

References

St Agatha's chapel, Mdina Wikipedia