St. Paul's Bay
St. Paul's Bay (Maltese: San Pawl il-Baħar) is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, sixteen kilometres (9.9 miles) northwest of the capital Valletta. Saint Paul's Bay is the largest town in the Northern Region and the seat of the Northern Regional Committee.[1]
Saint Paul's Bay
San Pawl il-Baħar | |
|---|---|
 From top, left to right: skyline, Buġibba Temple, St. Paul's Shipwreck Church, Wignacourt Tower, Buġibba square, Malta National Aquarium | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): In Christo Renati Sumus (Born again in Christ) | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 35°56′54″N 14°24′6″E | |
| Country |  Malta |
| Region | Northern Region |
| District | Northern District |
| Borders | Mellieħa, Mġarr, Mosta, Naxxar |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Alfred Grima (PL) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.47 km2 (5.59 sq mi) |
| Population (2021[1]) | |
| • Total | 32,042 |
| • Density | 2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi) |
| Population exceeds 60,000 in summer[2] | |
| Demonym(s) | Pawlin (m), Pawlina (f), Pawlini (pl) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | SPB |
| Dialing code | 356 |
| ISO 3166 code | MT-51 |
| Patron saints | Our Lady of Sorrows Sacred Heart of Mary St. Francis of Assisi |
| Website | Official website |
Its name refers to the shipwreck of Saint Paul as documented in the Acts of the Apostles on St. Paul's Islands near St Paul's Bay, on his voyage from Caesarea to Rome, which laid the foundations of Christianity on the island.
Burmarrad, Wardija, Qawra, Buġibba, Xemxija, and San Martin, as well as parts of Bidnija and Mistra, form part of St. Paul's Bay Local Council.[3] The area of the locality is 14.47 km2 (6 sq mi).
The population in 2018 was 23,112. This goes up to about 60,000 between June and September with Maltese residents and tourists lodging in hotels, especially in Buġibba and Qawra.Heading north is Mistra Bay, its headland and St Paul's Island. Going west and crossing the island towards Ġnejna Bay and Golden Bay is the scenic Wardija Ridge.