St Paul's Bay

Saint Paul's Bay (Maltese: San Pawl il-Baħar, Italian: Baia di San Paolo) is a town in the Northern Region of Malta. It is situated sixteen kilometres (9.9 miles) northwest of the capital city Valletta. Saint Paul's Bay is largest town in the Northern Region and the seat of the Northern Regional Committee.

Its name refers to the shipwreck of Saint Paul, as documented in the Acts of the Apostles, due to the tradition that Saint Paul was shipwrecked on the isles, named St. Paul's Islands, which are situated near St Paul's Bay. According to the Bible, St. Paul was shipwrecked on an island which many scholars have identified as Malta on his voyage from Caesarea to Rome. The Maltese people believe that it was St. Paul who laid the foundations of Christianity on the island.

The localities of Burmarrad, Qawra, Buġibba, Xemxija, Mselliet, and San Martin as well as part of Bidnija and Mistra, form part of St. Paul's Bay Local Council. The area of the locality is 14.47 km2 (6 sq mi).

The resident population as of March 2014 stood at 21,046 persons.[2] This population goes up to about 60,000 during the period of June to September. The increase is due both to Maltese summer residents and tourists lodging in hotels, especially in Buġibba and Qawra.

Although the town is a modern tourist area there are some very pretty natural highlights close by. Heading north there 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.