Sarria Church

Region	South Eastern
Building type	Place of Worship
Address	Sarria Church, Triq Sarria, Floriana, Malta
Located Graffiti	Dates, Names or Initials, Ship Graffiti, Symbols, Text

A chapel built in gratitude to the divine after the plague of 1675 – 1676. Built in a rotunda style, this chapel is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. It was built over the original chapel which was funded by Knight Fra Martin Sarria Navarra. Due to its location, the present chapel is sometimes referred to as the ‘Sarria Church’, making reference to the Knight who funded the original construction.

Gallery

A depiction of a lateen-rigged ship with a bowsprit.

A Galley is depicted featuring two lateen-rigged masts carrying flags. The hull has a very low freeboard which extends towards the stern with a stern quarters. The standing rigging is visible. Two lines extend downwards from the bow, as if extending into the sea.

A ship depiction carrying lateen rigging.

A ship is depicted with a decorated stern deck. The rigging has faded away over time. There is a small seacraft in tow.

This graffito seems to be very detailed and based on realism. However, the etchings are fast-disappearing over time. The ship depicted is seen from portside. The bow carries a beak and a bowsprit. At least two masts are visible with standing rigging. Two rows of cannon ports can be identified. A flag is present at the stern.

The outline of a ship’s hull is visible. The stern has a high freeboard. The bow of the ship graffito is not visible.

A ship graffito featuring multiple cannon rows. The ship is depicted with one lateen sail and a possible square sail on a foremast. The stern carries a flag and the bow extends forward with a bowsprit. A series of parallel lines likely represent a set of oars.

A simple depiction of a ship with at least one mast. The mast has a flag although it lacks details. A superimposition of other graffiti makes it difficult to trace the outline of the ship graffito.

A depiction of two ships. The top etching features a galleon. However, the graffito seems to be incomplete and only a light sketch of the ship is visible. The perspective of the etching looks warped. Underneath the galleon, a ship with a low freeboard can be seen. This is a graffito of a galley.

A ship graffito that seems to be modern in typology due to its hull form and rigging. At least two flags on the masts fly the Union Jack. A date ‘1757’ accompanies the graffito.

The hull of a Knights’ period gunship with its gunports open. The graffito is very detailed and etched in perspective. The stern is adorned in decoration. The rigging is absent.

Although hidden amongst other graffiti types, the hull of a ship is visible, This graffito lacks detail.

Sarria Church

Gallery

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