Mysterium Fidei Monastery, Grand Harbour Travel Guide

Venture beneath the bustling streets of Valletta and step into the serene world of the Mysterium Fidei Monastery, also known as St. Catherine's Monastery. Founded in 1575, the monastery provided refuge for female orphans, originally in the palace of Marquis Giovanni Vasco Oliviero and his wife Katerina. The couple donated their home, Casa Vanilla, out of gratitude for their son's recovery from the plague, and it evolved into a monastery.Explore the underground complex, a former quarry from which the monastery's stones were extracted. This subterranean space has been transformed into a museum, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of the cloistered nuns. See their simple bedrooms, kitchens, and work areas, and learn about their self-sufficient lifestyle. The nuns made tiles and candles to support themselves. The museum also reveals a more complex history, including rooms where young women deemed threats to morality were cared for and helped to reform.Discover the hidden garden, a tranquil oasis with herbs, fruit trees, and freshwater wells. This enclosed space provided the nuns with food and a connection to nature. During World War II, the underground rooms served as shelters for the nuns. The monastery also holds a crypt, the final resting place for nuns who vowed never to leave its walls.Mysterium Fidei offers a multi-sensory experience, inviting visitors to appreciate the architecture, history, and peaceful atmosphere of this unique site. An audio tour is available in multiple languages, providing insights into the lives of the nuns and the stories held within these ancient walls.