Ghar Il-Midfna

The Xemxija Heritage Trail is a historical path in St. Paul's Bay, which takes visitors to a series of historical sites that trace Malta's long and layered history, from the Stone Age to the Roman and medieval periods. Each stop along the trail gives a fascinating insight into how the island's inhabitants lived, worshipped, and buried their dead.

This ancient cave dates back to the Stone Age and has been identified as a burial site due to the niches and chambers carved into the walls of the cave, which was likely where the bodies of the deceased were laid to rest. Rock-cut tombs were a common way to communally bury the dead during the period. The structure and organization of these types of burials suggest a growing complexity in the treatment of the dead in human society. 

The cave is set in the hills of St. Paul's Bay, within a landscape of terraced hillsides, gnarled trees, and wildflowers. Other interesting sites along the trail include Roman apiaries, ancient dwellings, and even a 1000 year-old carob tree.