Chapel of the Annunciation, Salini (Tal-Lunzjata)

At a glance

History and local tradition

The Salini chapel is remembered as a devotional landmark for communities around Naxxar and the northern countryside. Built in 1618, it reflects the period when small chapels served farming families, travellers, and coastal workers—often acting as spiritual “waypoints” in an otherwise open landscape.

Over the centuries, the chapel’s identity became closely linked to the name Tal-Lunzjata (the Annunciation), and its location near the catacombs made it part of a wider heritage corridor that blends faith, archaeology, and local memory.

Although the chapel was built in 1618, the surrounding landscape continued to evolve. In 1776, substantial retaining walls were constructed to stabilise the terrain, reflecting ongoing efforts to preserve the chapel within the Salini countryside.

Architecture: what to look for

• Compact plan: a small footprint typical of early-modern rural chapels.
• Limestone character: warm Maltese stone that weathers into soft, historic textures.
• Devotional focus: a simple interior layout designed around the altar and the Annunciation devotion.
• Landscape context: the chapel “reads” best from outside—notice how it sits beside tracks and open ground.

Planning your visit

For more heritage inspiration, see: Chapels & Churches of the Maltese Islands and Oldest Chapels in Malta & Gozo.