Carmelite Church

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The Carmelite Church was the first to be used for spiritual functions during the building of the city in mid of 16th century. When a piece of land was given to the Carmelite Order by the Grand Master del Monte a new church was built by the architect Girolomo Cassar. During the same time, that is late 16th century, a devote picture of Our Lady was brought from Sicily. This devotion was spread around the island a masses of people were visiting this church. By time the friars saw that the church was small and decided to extend it from the sides by adding the naves. In 1881, Pope Leo XIII, declared this church as a Sanctuary, which was the first of its kind on the Maltese islands, and in 1895 the church was elevated to a Basilica.

During World War 2 the church was hit and had extentive damage. A desicion was made that a new church had to be built. The architect was Guze' Damato. The foundation stone was laid in 1958, and the doors were opened in 1980.

Today one can admire the stone work in limestone, and also the also the new marble pavement.

Carmel Pace