The Historical Tales and Legends From Malta & Gozo
Malta’s scenery has been shaped not just by time and waves but also by stories that have been passed down through the ages and continue to echo through its palaces, chapels, and valleys. Terrence Mifsud lists five ageless legends that continue to fascinate and frighten people, with stories ranging from missing saints to cursed sinkholes. historical value.
Il-Maqluba
Il-Maqluba is a huge sinkhole that is hidden in the peaceful countryside of Qrendi. Legends about it are as deep as the crater itself. Legend has it that this enormous crater wasn’t formed by nature. According to the legend, the people who used to reside here had become so immoral that Heaven could no longer stand them. A virtuous woman, appalled by the transgressions of her neighbours, fervently pleaded for divine intervention. Her prayers were met with violence. Only the house of the devout woman, which amazingly survived on the brink of the abyss, was spared when the ground exploded, engulfing the entire community. According to some, she was taken away by angels prior to the collapse. Geologists may argue that Il-Maqluba was created by natural erosion, but locals would tell you that it is a terrifying reminder of the might of virtue.
Wied Speranza
Travelling through Mosta will lead you to Wied Speranza, a serene valley known as the ‘Valley of Hope’. A young Maltese girl was reported to have escaped Turkish invaders through this valley during the Ottoman assaults. As her assailants drew closer, she dropped on her knees in prayer, having nowhere to hide. A spider’s web was all that was visible as they turned the corner; it was too flawless and undisturbed to suggest that anyone had entered the cave. The raiders continued, certain that the cave was deserted. The girl was secure. It appears that the spider spun a story of salvation in addition to silk.
Verdala Palace
Verdala Palace, nestled within the Buskett Gardens, is regal by day and haunted by night—or so the story goes. Many claim to have seen the “Blue Lady”, promised in marriage to a knight she did not love. In despair, after being locked inside the palace, she threw herself from the palace balcony, still dressed in the pale blue gown she had worn during her engagement. Since then, her spirit has wandered the halls of Verdala Palace, appearing to guests and guards alike. Described as beautiful yet melancholy, the Blue Lady serves as a reminder that even behind stone walls and titles, heartbreak knows no boundaries. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, few dare to spend the night alone in Verdala.
Located in the Buskett Gardens, Verdala Palace is said to be haunted at night and royal by day. Several people say they have seen the “Blue Lady”, a melancholy ghost believed to be the soul of a noblewoman who died tragically.
The Blue Lady is a reminder that sadness knows no bounds, even when it is hidden beneath titles and stone walls. Few people dare to spend the night alone in Verdala, regardless of whether they believe in ghosts or not.
Mdina
In addition to its traffic-free streets, the walled city of Mdina, sometimes referred to as the Silent City, is quiet because of the reverent stillness surrounding its tales, particularly that of Saint Agatha. Around 249 AD, Agatha fled persecution in Sicily and sought safety in Malta. According to legend, she spent some time in a cave beneath the present-day chapel in Rabat that bears her name. In exchange for the Maltese protecting her from Roman forces, she left behind more than just a memory—she left them marvels. The people of Mdina prayed to Saint Agatha for protection during a Turkish invasion centuries later. According to the legend, she rallied the city’s defenders when she materialised in the skies in a vision while wearing a red robe. Terrified by the enigmatic apparition, the invaders retreated. To this day, Saint Agatha is still revered as one of the island’s most ferocious guardian.
San Dimitri
Perhaps the most moving of them all is the legend of San Dimitri. A small chapel sits close to a precipitous cliff with a view of the sea in the peaceful settlement of Għarb. Legend has it that a pious mother named Żgugina prayed at the chapel every day, pleading with San Dimitri to preserve her son from corsairs. Her hopes were answered one day in the most spectacular way. To save the boy, San Dimitri is reported to have jumped from the chapel’s picture, leaped through the wall, and raced across the sea on his horse. According to the legend, he brought him back safely and left a small outline of his horse scorched into the stone. According to locals, San Dimitri still rides his horse when his people need him because on some evenings you can still hear the sound of hooves resonating around the cliffs.
