Paola, Malta

Paola Raħal Ġdid Pawla Casal Paola, Casal Nuovo
Local council
Antoine de Paule Square and the Basilica of Christ the King
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 35°52′22″N 14°30′27″E / 35.87278°N 14.50750°E / 35.87278; 14.50750
Country	Malta
Region	South Eastern Region
District	Southern Harbour District
Founded	1626
Founded by	Antoine de Paule
Borders	Cospicua, Fgura, Luqa, Marsa, Santa Luċija, Tarxien
Government
• Mayor	Dominic Grima (PL)
Area
• Total	2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Population  (Jan. 2019)
• Total	8,706
• Density	3,500/km2 (9,000/sq mi)
Demonyms	Paolites Pawlist (m), Pawlista (f), Pawlisti (pl)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	PLA
Dialing code	356
ISO 3166 code	MT-39
Patron saint	Christ the King; Our Lady of Lourdes
Day of festa	Last Sunday of July; 1st Sunday after 15 August
Website	Official website

Paola (Maltese: Raħal Ġdid, Italian: Casal Nuovo, both meaning "New Town") is a town in the South Eastern Region of Malta, with 8,706 inhabitants as of 2019. The town is a commercial centre in the Southern Harbour area of Malta, about 5 km from the capital Valletta, contiguous to Tarxien and Fgura, with which it forms a single urban area. Paola is named after Grand Master Antoine de Paule, who laid the foundation stone in 1626.

Paola is renowned for the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, the Basilica of Christ the King (the largest church in the Maltese Islands), Antoine de Paule Square and its shopping centres, the Good Friday procession, and its football club, Hibernians FC. The Mariam Al-Batool Mosque, the only mosque in Malta, as well as an Islamic Cultural Centre are found in Paola. The country's correctional facilities (Corradino prison) and the largest burial grounds, the Addolorata Cemetery are also within the limits of Paola.

There are two parish churches, one dedicated to Christ the King and the other to Our Lady of Lourdes. The feast of Christ the King is celebrated on the last Sunday of July and Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated on the first Sunday after 17 August. The parish also has a Franciscan church dedicated to Saint Anthony, in the Għajn Dwieli zone of the parish. St. Ubaldesca Church is the oldest church in Paola and was the first parish church there. In 2008 the church underwent minimal restoration.^[1] Villa Perellos, named after grand master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful, is a local historical landmark.^[2]

When the Order of St John came to Malta ,a big part from Paola to Birmula, was named all Birmula but they changed them to 3 towns. A big part named Fgura and another big part, near dock 6 became Paola.