Chapel of Our Saviour - Kalkara, Malta - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

"Located on the hill between thr Rinella and Kalkara creeks this chapel was built on the site were a very old chapel medieval once stood. The original structure was severely damaged during the Great Siege of 1565 and had to be demolished by the Knights, but was rebuilt again by Grand Master La Valette and subsequently another time by the Knight Fra Giovanni Bichi. This was done on the plans of Lorenzo Gafà in 1651, and the present-day chapel was soon blessed by Vicar General Canon Famucelli in May of that year.

ABOUT
From The Times Of Malta and the book “A hundred wayside chapels of Malta & Gozo” by Kilin.

The chapel is built in the form of a hexagon, with six walls, more or less of the same length. It served as a parish church when the church of St. Joseph was destroyed by bombs during World War II. When Kalkara became a parish, the chapel tas-Salvatur was the first parish of the locality. Before the last war, the chapel was very well kept by the British services at the nearby Bighi hospital. Indeed, its benches would be covered with fine damask!

It later fell into neglect and was used to store feast decorations.

INTERIOR

The chapel was extensively restored in 2009. The altar was also restored. Above the altar there was a painting of St. Philumena, by Madiona, which has now been removed. The statue of Our Lady of the Snows (tas-Silg) that was originally housed in the niche above the entrance door, is no longer there today. The chapel is nowadays for the most part surrounded by modern buildings that contrast greatly with its style.

FRA BICHI

Fra Bichi, who was related to Pope Alexander VII, reportedly died of plague and was buried inside the same chapel. A marble tablet was placed inside the chapel by his brother, the Cardinal Antonio Bichi. The tablet has been removed by a stone monument with the image of the Prior in bas-relief still exists."

MASS TIMES

Every first Friday of the month at 9:00 am;

Sundays: 7:00 pm

(visit link)

Group that erected the marker: Concilio de Kalkara URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: Cittá Kalkara, Malta Kalkara, Malta VGRG+J5P,

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