St. Paul's Grotto

The main pilgrimage site on Gozo associated with the cult of Saint Paul the Apostle. The cave is located under the basilica dedicated to St. Paul. According to tradition, it was here that Paul and his companions had to take refuge when their ship sank off the coast of Malta during a trip from Crete to Rome. This is one of the first places associated with Christianity in Malta and is the destination of numerous pilgrimages. The grotto was visited by, among others Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.