Location Map Coordinates 35.8311754, 14.4566675
San Mattew Iż-Żgħir is part of a sacred landscape that blends geology, memory and devotion. Local tradition links the chapel to the story of a catastrophic storm in the 14th century that created the Maqluba sinkhole—an event that shaped the area’s identity and reinforced the chapel’s reputation as a protected holy place.
Historically, the chapel is known to have existed by the late medieval period and is often associated with earlier medieval origins. It is also referenced in the context of a major ecclesiastical visitation in 1575, reflecting its role as an established devotional site in the Qrendi countryside.
The chapel is modest in scale and typical of medieval Maltese rural religious buildings: functional stonework, simple massing, and a compact interior focused entirely on the altar. Its atmosphere is defined by the interplay of limestone, shadow, and pointed arches—an architectural language widely associated with medieval worship spaces on the islands.
The site contains two places of worship dedicated to St Matthew. When the larger St Matthew church was built nearby in the late 17th century, the older chapel was annexed and its function changed: it became physically connected to the new church and was used as a crypt-like space. This transformation reduced the chapel’s independent footprint, but it also helped preserve it within the expanded complex.
Inside, the chapel’s simplicity is part of its power. Visitors often notice the medieval spatial feel, the stone altar, and small decorative details that survived changes to the surrounding complex. These elements speak to continuity: even when buildings are altered, worship and local attachment can remain remarkably stable.
Related reading on eMalta.com: Chapels & Churches of the Maltese Islands · Oldest Chapels in Malta & Gozo
They are closely connected at the same site: the “smaller” chapel is the older medieval space, beside the later, larger church dedicated to St Matthew.
Il-Maqluba is a major natural landmark (a sinkhole) tied to local legend and identity, making the chapel’s setting as significant as the building itself.
Sometimes. Access can be limited and may depend on events, services or heritage openings. If closed, the exterior and landscape are still worth visiting.
