Mysterium Fidei Monastery, Fawwara Area Travel Guide

Venture into the heart of Valletta and uncover the Mysterium Fidei Monastery, a captivating museum nestled beneath St. Catherine's Monastery on St. Christopher Street. This unique site, only recently opened to the public, offers a rare glimpse into the world of cloistered nuns who have resided here since the era of the Knights of St. John.Founded in 1575, St. Catherine's Monastery was originally established to care for female orphans. Marquis Giovanni Vasco Oliviero and his wife Katerina, grateful for their son's recovery from the plague, donated their palace, Casa Vanilla, to the nuns. They also funded the construction of a cloister and an additional floor, bequeathing all their possessions to the monastery. The stones used to build the monastery were quarried directly from the site, creating the underground complex that now forms the Mysterium Fidei Museum.Explore the nuns' living quarters, including simple bedrooms, kitchens, washrooms, and even their final resting place in the crypt. The museum also reveals a hidden garden, a self-sustaining oasis where the nuns cultivate herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Discover the wells used for fresh water and perhaps catch a glimpse of Mimi, the monastery's friendly cat.One of the most intriguing aspects of the Mysterium Fidei is the insight it provides into the nuns' daily lives and the historical context of their seclusion. The museum also sheds light on the stories of young women who were brought to the monastery, offering a glimpse into the social dynamics of the time.Note that the upper floors of the monastery remain a closed cloister, and are still home to a few cloistered nuns of the Second Order of Saint Augustine.