In the centre of island of Malta lies a small neighbourhood known as ‘Tal-Mirakli’. (‘The Miraculous [Neighbourhood]’). It nestles between the three residential villages of Attard, Balzan and Lija. There you can find a small Roman Catholic chapel that contains the source of this unusual name.

The chapel is a 17th century building and is almost completely surrounded by houses. When built, this entire area was nothing more than a large collection of fields. The chapel would have stood out and been visible from afar. Today it forms part of the village of Lija as the suburbs developed after World War 2.

In 1743, the image of the Virgin Mary in the chapel shed a tear according to locals who were in the chapel at the time. The next day, a huge earthquake hit the island. No one died in the earthquake, which was considered a miraculous event. Locals soon connected these two events. The painting, and the chapel, became known as “Tal-Mirakli”, a name which is still used up till today.

Legends speak of the Madonna crying, but the plaque by the painting claims something completely different. The Madonna started sweating rather than crying. The plaque also fails to mention the earthquake.

Furthermore, the 1693 earthquake was an event that people would have still had in mind. It had caused considerable damage to the walled city of Mdina and reconstruction works had just finished in 1743. There is no proper record of an earthquake in the 18th century, which makes the legend even more unusual.

The effects of this earthquake were fewer than from the 1908 earthquake.

The painting itself is a simple triptych showing a seated Madonna holding the infant Jesus. The painting is attributed to artists who worked with renowned Italian painter Mattia Pretti. (Visitors to Malta will recognise his name if they’ve seen the decorated Co-Cathedral of St John in Valletta)

The chapel, simple and rather peaceful, is open every evening for a religious service. If you visit just before or just after the mass you can sit and admire the painting that gave name to this residential neighbourhood.

Have you visited this chapel? What other variations on the legend have you heard?