Summary
St Paul’s Islands are a 10-hectare uninhabited island cluster off Selmun, Mellieħa. Traditionally identified as the site of St Paul’s shipwreck in 60 AD, they are a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area, and a nature reserve. The islands host an endemic lizard subspecies found nowhere else and have been uninhabited since the 1930s.
Timeline
- 2025-11
The islands’ Special Protection Area status was upgraded as part of a new SPA designation covering St Paul’s Islands plus a 5 km stretch of northern cliffs, adding approximately 1.25 km² to Malta’s SPA network.
- 1990
Pope John Paul II visited the island by boat during his Malta tour.
- 1930s
The last resident, farmer Vincenzo Borg, left the island. He had lived in the Lascaris tower, converting it to a farmhouse. The island has been uninhabited ever since. The tower is now a ruin.
- 1844-45
A 4-metre statue of St Paul was erected on the island, sculpted by Segismondo Dimech and Salvatore Dimech. It remains a landmark visible from the Maltese coast.
- 1649
A tower was built on the island by Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, part of the coastal watchtower network defending against corsair raids.
- 1576
The islands were granted to Marco di Maria after he evaded Barbary corsairs through the narrow channel between St Paul’s Islands and the mainland. The corsairs ran aground pursuing him. The islands became known locally as “Tal-Barba Marku.”
Context
St Paul’s Islands are approximately 10 hectares (0.101 km²) with 0.9 km of coastline. It lies off Selmun, near St Paul’s Bay on Malta’s northeastern coast. The name comes from the Salomone family, who owned nearby land in Mellieħa in the 16th century. The Maltese adapted “Isola Salomone” to Selmun, and the diminutive “Selmunett” for the smaller island.
The island is sometimes split into two by a shallow strait, hence the plural “Islands.” It is the second-largest uninhabited island of Malta after Filfla.
The shipwreck of St Paul, described in Acts 28, is traditionally placed here - though the exact location is disputed. Underwater finds near Salina Bay, including the largest Roman-period lead anchor stock ever found, suggest Salina Bay may be the actual site. The legend matters regardless: it is the foundation narrative of Maltese Christianity, and it gives this island a cultural weight that exceeds its size.
Wildlife and protection
St Paul’s Islands are a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area (upgraded November 2025), and a nature reserve with surrounding marine waters included. Access is restricted to sunrise-to-sunset. Camping and barbecues are prohibited.
The island hosts an endemic lizard subspecies - the Selmunett wall lizard (Podarcis filfolensis kieselbachi) - found nowhere else. Its population has declined due to rat predation, a recurring problem on Malta’s small islands linked to human food waste. Seabird species include European shag and yellow-legged gulls. The flora is typical Mediterranean salt-tolerant: wild thyme, samphire, and low shrubs.
There are no current development threats. The protected status is robust. The main management challenge is enforcing access restrictions and keeping the island rat-free.