The 1592–1593 Plague
This early epidemic resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths and was the catalyst for the Knights of St. John to establish formal quarantine procedures on the Isolotto (Manoel Island).
- Manoel Island (Isolotto): Marking the first recorded use of the island for victims. Burial pits were dug near temporary quarantine huts.
- Marsa (Il-Ħandaq): Historical records suggest rural areas were used for mass burials to protect the walled cities.
The Great Plague (1675–1676)
Malta's deadliest outbreak claimed over 11,000 lives, leading to a permanent shift away from church-floor burials to extra-mural cemeteries.
- Manoel Island (Lazzaretto Ditch): Used extensively during the 1675 and 1813 outbreaks. It formerly contained six separate cemeteries, though only one is clearly visible today.
- Ta' Braxia Cemetery (Pietà): While a multi-faith site today, it was originally the site of a 1778 plague cemetery for the Sacra Infermeria.
- St. Teodoro Cemetery (Siġġiewi): A dedicated burial ground specifically used during the 1675–1676 epidemic.
- St. Roque (Birkirkara): The site of the Chapel of St. Roch, which was built as a thanksgiving for the end of the plague and often sits near burial grounds of that era.
1675–1676 Parish & Rural Burial Grounds
During the 1675 outbreak, many victims were buried in or near disused churches and specific village plots:
- Vittoriosa (Birgu): Il-Hisieli.
- Cospicua & Senglea: Dedicated common graves outside the fortifications.
- Rabat: Disused Church of St. Mark.
- Żurrieq: Disused Church of St. Thomas.
- Bubaqra: Disused Church of St. Nicholas.
- Attard: St. Michael’s Church.
- Kirkop: Disused Church of St. Giacione.
- Mosta: Don Martino Vella’s Church.
The Last Major Outbreak (1813–1814)
This epidemic resulted in approximately 4,500 deaths, 104 were in Xagħra in Gozo
While Valletta suffered heavily, the 1814 outbreak in Gozo left a lasting mark on the village of Xagħra.
- Hofra Cemetery (Manoel Island): Located in Manoel Island. Note: Contains the 1808 memorial of a Captain who died shortly after landing.
- Xagħra Plague Cemetery (Gozo): The primary site for Gozo’s 104 victims, located near the Ghajn Lukin ridge.
- Ta' Braxia (Pietà): Originally served as a burial ground for the Sacra Infermeria during this epidemic.
Complete List of Plague Cemeteries
1. Manoel Island – Lazzaretto Cemetery (Gżira)
- Outbreak: 17th–19th century (quarantine use)
- Type: Quarantine cemetery
- Status: Partially surviving
Associated with the Lazzaretto quarantine system. Used for arrivals suspected of infectious disease.
---2. St George’s Chapel Cemetery – Manoel Island
- Outbreak: Late 18th – early 19th century
- Status: Surviving (fragmentary)
Contains tombstones including an 1808 burial linked to quarantine arrivals.
---3. Cospicua “Cimiterju tal-Infetti”
- Outbreak: 1675–1676 Great Plague
- Status: Survives
One of the few clearly documented plague cemeteries still existing today.
---4. Isolotto / Manoel Island Burial Ground (Valletta victims)
- Outbreak: 1675–1676
- Status: Partially preserved
5. Rabat Plague Burial Grounds (General Area)
- Outbreak: 1675–1676
- Status: Largely lost
Victims were often buried in churches or peripheral areas around Rabat during the epidemic.
---6. Probable 1813 Plague Cemetery near St Anthony’s Cemetery (Rabat)
- Outbreak: 1813–1814
- Coordinates: 35.8892827, 14.4078917
- Status: Surviving enclosure
A small enclosed site measuring approximately 10 × 20 metres, marked by gate piers and located outside Rabat. Its size, isolation, and structure strongly correspond to emergency burial grounds created during the 1813 plague.
Although not formally documented in major academic sources, its characteristics match known plague cemetery patterns from the British period.
---7. Żebbuġ Plague Burial Fields
- Outbreak: 1813–1814
- Status: Lost / unmarked
Temporary burial zones were established near quarantine camps outside the village.
---8. Qormi Plague Burial Areas
- Outbreak: 1813–1814
- Status: Lost
Qormi was heavily affected and placed under strict isolation; burial areas were created outside the settlement.
---9. Xagħra Plague Cemetery (Gozo)
- Outbreak: 1814 (Gozo phase)
- Status: Surviving
Located near the plague hospital at Xagħra, approximately 250 metres away. The cemetery formed part of a dedicated hospital-and-burial complex established during the outbreak.
---10. Marsamxett & Harbour Quarantine Burials
- Outbreak: 17th–19th century
- Status: Lost
10. The Msida Bastion Cemetery
- Outbreak: 1814
- Status: Surviving
Was used for non catholic victims
How Plague Cemeteries Were Used
Plague cemeteries in Malta followed strict principles:
- Located outside towns and villages
- Often temporary and rapidly established
- Bodies buried with quicklime to limit contagion
- Minimal or no permanent markers
During the 1675–1676 epidemic, burials were moved away from churches and into special cemeteries or isolated areas.
---Why Many Sites Have Disappeared
Most plague cemeteries in Malta no longer survive because:
- They were temporary emergency sites
- Urban expansion built over them
- They lacked permanent structures
- Agricultural reuse erased evidence
Conclusion
The plague cemeteries of Malta form an important but largely hidden layer of the islands’ history. While only a few survive in visible form, many more remain undocumented or lost beneath modern landscapes.
Ongoing research, field observation, and documentation continue to reveal new insights into these forgotten burial grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the plague cemetery in Gozo?
The primary plague cemetery in Gozo is located on the ridge in Xagħra. It was established during the 1814 outbreak specifically to bury the 104 victims who died in the local plague hospital (Tal-Fewdu) and within the village's sanitary cordon.
Who is buried in the Manoel Island cemeteries?
These sites, like the Hofra cemetery, contain the remains of individuals who died while in quarantine at the Lazzaretto. This includes British military personnel, who died in 1808, as well as travelers and locals affected by the 1813-1814 epidemic.
Why were these cemeteries built in isolated locations?
They were part of a strict "sanitary cordon" system. By burying victims immediately near quarantine hospitals or in designated "ditches" (like at Manoel Island), authorities aimed to prevent the "contagion" from spreading to the healthy population in the main towns.
Are these historical sites open to the public?
Many of these cemeteries are located on protected heritage land or within restricted areas (like the Lazzaretto complex). While some, like the Xagħra site, can be viewed from the exterior, others may require special permission from Heritage Malta or local councils to access.