About Malta - Maltese Villages and their Charm

Apart from the few ‘cosmopolitan’ areas on the tiny island of Malta there are many small villages that, although are a stone’s throw away from one another, are completely different in their character and charm. Each town has its own church, architecture and history and provides interesting getaways from the busy towns or the popular Malta sightseeing sites such as Rabat and Valletta.

Places to Visit in Malta

Zurrieq is a town with a long history, which has produced remains from the megalithic, Punic and Roman phases. Many of the houses here were built in the 15th and 16th Centuries and thus have some splendid architecture which can be appreciated just by walking along the streets. The importance of the town can be felt from the Bronze Age, where it was guarded by means of small towers. In fact it is now a parish and has been given special importance because of its antiquity! The church that is present in the town was built in the 1630s and survives in perfect condition, save for the two bell-towers that were changed in the 1800s. The church is also important because it serves as somewhat of a museum for the work of the famous artist, Mattia Preti, who also lived in this town at the time when the plague had spread in the capital city of Valletta. Zurrieq was also very important in the setting up of the cotton industry in Malta and by 1647 there were over 1500 people producing and working cotton!

Zebbug is another important town, particularly when it comes to prehistory. There is a very important prehistoric temple known as Skorba Temple which is related to Zebbug. In fact, there is even a phase in Maltese prehistory know as the ‘Zebbug Phase’. The temple is made of stone and provided evidence for the whole chronology of Maltese prehistory. In fact there is evidence of human presence in Zebbug which dates back to 6000 years ago! Another important step in history which took place in Zebbug is the introduction of rock-cut burial tombs which remained in use till the Punic period.

Dingli is a unique town which contains a really one-of-a-kind type of site which comes from the Medieval period. The site, known as ‘Simblija’ is located on extremely fertile land and contains three rooms with medieval ceilings, an old mill, rock-cut chambers, an extremely old chapel and a Medieval piazza. The site is located in the middle of fields and still preserves the feeling of how it must have been originally. For this reason, if you intend to visit this site, try and find a guide who will take you there. In Dingli, there is also a natural spring which was walled around in order to enclose the water for the residents to be able to utilize. Similar natural springs known as ‘Ghajn tal-Hassilin’ (Spring of the Cleaners) are located right in the middle of several towns across the island, and where used in old times by housewives to wash their laundry.

Mqabba is a town which is often ignored by travellers and tourists. This town is interesting because it contains a number of underground tombs in an area called ‘Tal-Mintna Fost is-Sbieh’. The underground tomb complexes contained arched burial chambers similar to Christian catacombs as well as round carved stone tables were rituals and feasts took place. However, it seems that many of the burials were not Christian but pagan. Above ground, Mqabba boasts a large church filled with lavish art and architecture and no less than nine altars.

So, if you want to avoid the crowds, or perhaps would like to do some sightseeing on your next visit to Malta; there are plenty of places to visit that are unlikely to be found in your guidebooks! Hop onto a bus or rent out a taxi and begin to explore the hidden gems that are scattered all over the Islands and find out about Maltese people of days gone by.

About the Author:
Mrs. Claire Zammit Xuereb manages some of the leading Malta hotels. If you’re looking for an enjoyable Malta Holiday, then stay at one of the top seafront Qawra Hotels which offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. You can enjoy a relaxing break in our top range of Malta Accommodation whilst being close to a variety of restaurants, bars, gift shops and entertainment venues.