 The niche of Saint Paul, situated in the centre of the square, was built during the magistry of Grandmaster António Manoel de Vilhena in 1727.When the population of Rabat went through a famine, plagues and other hardships, the niche served as a site of religious devotion.During the Crown Colony of Malta, Saqqajja was developed further with the building of residential Art Nouveau townhouses, Casino Notabile, Point de Vue and Villa Fringila.