The Secrets of Cemetery Symbols

The Msida Bastions Cemetery

I recently took a virtual tour of the Msida Bastion Cemetery, and to be honest,

I wasn’t expecting to get so drawn in.

From my screen, I thought I’d just be browsing through a few old graves, but it turned out to be a deep and surprisingly personal journey through Malta’s layered history.

The cemetery is tucked inside what was once part of the old fortifications of Floriana, overlooking the Marsamxett Harbour. It's not just a burial ground — it’s actually Malta’s first Protestant cemetery, dating back to the early 1800s when British rule had just begun. What fascinated me immediately was how this place had once fallen into complete ruin. After WWII, it was bombed, abandoned, and overrun with weeds. But today, thanks to dedicated volunteers, it’s been lovingly restored into something that feels more like a garden of memories than a graveyard.

As I clicked through the virtual pathways, I noticed the tombstones weren’t what I expected. Some are shaped like obelisks and pyramids — very classical, very elegant. These weren’t just decorative. Many of them reflect ideas from the Enlightenment and even Masonic symbols. That made me pause. It turns out that a lot of the people buried here were British military officers, officials, and members of societies that left subtle messages behind. You’re not just seeing gravestones — you’re reading hidden chapters of history.

One tomb in particular stood out: the grave of Mikiel Anton Vassalli, often called the father of the Maltese language. He wasn’t even Protestant, but because of his liberal views and his conflict with the Church, he wasn’t allowed a Catholic burial. So here he lies among British colonials — a Maltese patriot resting in foreign soil on his own island. That detail alone gave me chills.

Another powerful moment was seeing the monument to the crew of the HMS Queen, who died in a cholera outbreak. There’s a statue of Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, standing there in stone, placed by the surviving crew as a tribute. I hadn’t expected such drama in a cemetery.

The place is also bursting with life in its own quiet way. The virtual tour shows how it’s become something of a sanctuary — olive and cypress trees, flowering plants, and birds make this place feel alive. Some of the trees have been growing there for over 150 years. That blend of nature and history is part of what makes it feel so special.

What I loved most was that each tomb seemed to hold a story waiting to be pieced together — stories of early settlers, lost children, sea captains, and artists. And because the site was closed for over a century, much of it still feels untouched by modern hands.

If you’ve never explored the Msida Bastion Cemetery, I highly recommend starting with the virtual tour. You don’t need to be in Malta to appreciate the sense of time, place, and memory it holds. It’s not just a look into death — it’s a vivid reminder of how people lived, what they believed in, and how even in stone, they still speak.

Link to the free virtual tour of this cemetery: https://www.virtualmalta.com/msidabastionscemetery