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Report 2012: Five Days in Malta

By Eleanor from UK, Spring 2012

Page 8 of 24: Valletta Churches - Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

High Altar

The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is one of the largest churches in Valletta. It is a new building over an earlier church destroyed by bombing in the Second World War and is quite different from the other churches.

Inside it is a huge oval building with a dome. This has round topped plain glass windows round the base with a plain dome above, topped by a small cupola. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling.

The pale sandstone walls have red/brown semi circular wall pillars with carved tops. Between the pillars are highly carved arches. Each has a small altar with a small roundel above in a rectangular carved frame. Above is a larger painting with elaborately carved frames with angels and cherubim.

At the far end is a rounded carved apse with a mass altar supported by carved cherubs. Four red pillars support a wooden canopy with statues of angels with a dove underneath and a cross above. There is a painting of the Madonna and Child on the far wall with statues of angels on either side. Pillars round the painting are covered in blue and gold damask. Three chairs for church dignitaries replace the high altar.

On the wall opposite the altar is a carving of an angel with Christ, a gilded statue of St Joseph with the Christ Child, a crucifix and Mary and Child. The nave floor is concrete but the chancel floor is made of marble in different colors forming a geometric pattern.

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