The Chapel of the Flight to Egypt by the Holy Family (‘Il-Kappella tal-Harba lejn l-Egittu’ in Maltese, or simply 'Tal-Harba') is one that, on a day when the Valletta Waterfront is particularly busy, could easily be missed, given its relatively narrow facade and placement between the waterfront’s establishments and shops.

Despite its size, however, this chapel is rife with history and architectural glory, having been built back in in 1752 on the baroque design of Andrea Belli. It was built at the same time as the Pinto Stores – the warehouses built for the storage of silk, dried fruits and olive oil going westwards, and for the storage of food and arms arriving in port. The chapel too was built with a very specific purpose – the spiritual service of the workers at the stores.

During the Second World War, in 1941, the chapel was hit by aerial bombardment, after which it was closed for decades, while it was rebuilt and restored using the original remains of the building. It was opened for church service again fairly recently, in 2006, together with the reopening of the Valletta Waterfront alongside new restaurants and shops.

Nowadays, the chapel serves a similar function to its original one back in the 18th century – a spiritual haven for those out on the busy waterfront, sometimes hosting classical music concerts and other cultural events.

Have you ever visited this little chapel?