Set the scene.
An earlier chapel was mentioned in the records of Pietro Dusina’s church inspection in 1575. The building standing near Għarb today was rebuilt in 1736.
Here’s the twist.
Its altarpiece shows St Demetrius on horseback, a praying woman and a young man in chains. These figures refer to the legend of Żgugina and her captured son.
Why it still matters.
Keep the evidence separate: the painting and rebuilding date are historical clues; the saint’s miraculous rescue belongs to folklore. Both explain this remote chapel’s appeal.
🧠 One to think about +
What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.