Mqabba experiences

Mqabba is a small village in the south of Malta, with a population of 3,021 inhabitants.

It is famous for its limestone quarries.Extinct animals were found in Ta' Xantin and Ta' Kandja Quarries.
Paleo Christian catacombs are found in this village - known as Ta' Mintna.
Amongst other important structures, one can find Vincenti Tower, and various chapels such as the Chapel of St. Basil, Our Lady of Sorrows, St. John and St.Catherine of Alexendria.

The main church is dedicated to Assumption of Our Lady.Santa Marija feast in celebrated on the 15th of August. Feasts of secondary importance are those of Corpus Christi, The Immaculate Conception (known as Our Lady of the Lily) and Our Lady of the Rosary.

The titular statue found in the church, that of the Assumption of the blessed Mother of God, was executed by Alessandro Farrugia in 1836, made out of wood. The photograph shows the statue in its original form, as it was prior to 1928, when a new sarcophagus made of silver replaced the original wooden one seen in the picture. Apart from the sarcophagus, the statue itself has lost none of its characteristics.

Mqabba Main Roads

1. Pjazza tad-Djamanti (Diamonds Square)
2. Pjazza tal-Knisja (Church Square)
3. Triq il-Belt Valletta (Valletta Road)
4. Triq il-Karmnu (Carmelo Street)
5. Triq il-Konvoj ta' Santa Marija (St Mary Convoy Road)
6. Triq il-Parroċċa (Parish Street)
7. Triq il-Qrendi (Qrendi Road)
8. Triq is-Siġġiewi (Siggiewi Road)
9. Triq Karmenu Ciantar (Carmelo Ciantar Street)
10. Triq Tas-Sejba (Tas-Sejba Road)

Mtarfa experiences

Mtarfa is a small town close to Rabat and Mdina in the north of Malta, with a population of 2,396 people.

Mtarfa is a modern residential area, even though Roman inscriptions attributed to the Temple of Prosperine were found.

Military barracks were built in 1890.
A naval hospital (RNH Mtarfa) for injured persons was built during World War I. This has now been converted to a state secondary school, named after Sir Temi Zammit.
A chapel dedicated to St. Oswald was built by the British, during their occupation of the island.
One of the most famous landmarks of Mtarfa is the clock, built in 1895.

Mtarfa Main Roads

1. Triq G.Galea (G.Galea Street)
2. Triq Għajn Qajjet (Ghajn Qajjet Road)
3. Triq il-Kavallier Vincenzo Bonello (Cav. Vincent Bonello Street)
4. Triq il-Maltin Internati u Eżiljati
5. Triq il-Palma (Palm Street)
6. Triq it-Torri ta' l-Arloġġ (Clock Tower Street)
7. Triq Leslie Rundle (Leslie Rundle Street)
8. Triq l-Imtarfa (Mtarfa Road)
9. Triq l-Infetti (Nfetti Road)
10. Triq San David (St David Street)

Qormi experiences

Qormi, also known as Ħal Qormi or Città Pinto, is a city in Malta with a population of 16,576. The town is located southwest of Valletta in the centre of Malta. The town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry, sunny summers and short, cool winters.

The neighbouring towns of Qormi are Marsa, Luqa and Żebbuġ. Qormi sits just off a main road between Mdina and Valletta.

The patron saint of Qormi is Saint George while the protector is Saint Sebastian. For two weeks in summer, the town celebrates the feast of its Saints. The town is also known for its Good Friday procession with over 500 people participating each year, outgoing from the church of Saint George.

The area was settled as early as the Bronze Age. A number of tombs discovered in the past century indicates that the Phoenicians traded with the population. In the fifteenth century, Qormi was established as one of the first parishes in Malta and had the largest parish church in Malta at that stage.

It was known as Casal Fornaro, which means Baker's Village, back in the old days, due to the number of bakers that existed. The town provided bread to most of Malta. The name it has for production of bread has stayed as established bakeries do their utmost to keep up with the name.

Qormi is run by a local council established in 1993 under the Local Councils Act. The Local Council inaugurated a new office block in Triq il-Vitorja (Victory Street), which although they are a few metres away from the old ones, they are now in a much more central position, helping to reach the citizens' needs easier..

Qormi also houses a number of bakeries.

Qormi Main Roads

Qormi (San Ġorġ)

1. By-Pass ta' l-Imrieħel (Mrieħel By-Pass)
2. Misraħ San Franġisk (St. Frances Square)
3. Pjazza Maemple (Maemple Square)
4. Triq Ġużè Duca (Guzè Duca Road)
5. Triq il-Ħelsien (Freedom Street)
6. Triq il-Kardinal Xibberas (Cardinal Xibberas Street)
7. Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
8. Triq il-Vittorja (Victory Street)
9. Triq il-Wied (Valley Street)
10. Triq is-Sagħtar (Thyme Street0
11. Triq l-Isqof Scicluna (Bishop Scicluna Street)
12. Triq l-Aniċi (Anici Street)
13. Triq l-Ghaqda (Union Street)
14. Triq San Gorg (Saint George's Road)

Qormi (San Bastjan)

1. Dawret il-Ħamrun u l-Marsa (Marsa-Hamrun By-Pass)
2. Triq Ġużè Duca (Guzè Duca Street)
3. Triq l-Imdina (Mdina Road)
4. Triq Ħal-Luqa (Luqa Road)
5. Triq Ħal-Qormi (Qormi Road)
6. Triq il-Ġdida (New Street)
7. Triq il-Kanun (Canon Road)
8. Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
9. Triq il-Masġar (Garden Street)
10. Triq il-Mitħna (Mill Street)
11. Triq Manwel Dimech (Manoel Dimech Road)
12. Triq San Bartilmew (St Bhartolomeo Street)
13. Triq San Bastjan (St Sebastian Street)
14. Triq San Dwardu (St Edward Street)

Siġġiewi experiences

Siġġiewi is situated on a plateau in the South Western part of Malta, a few kilometres away from Mdina, the ancient capital city of Malta, and 10 kilometres away from Valletta the capital city. It is the home of  7903 inhabitants who, up to several decades ago, worked mostly in the fields which surround the village. The meaning of the word "Siġġiewi" is not confirmed; some say that the place was named after the Sageyo's, rich family which had large estates in this area. Others argue that the Semitic roots of the word mean 'prosperous' or calm; two virtues which the villagers still cherish today. In fact the motto of Siġġiewi is "Labore et Virtute"

In its demographic and topographical formation, Siġġiewi followed a pattern common to other villages in Malta. Before the arrival of the Order of St John in 1530, there were other thriving hamlets in the area. Little by little Ħal Xluq, Ħal Kbir, Ħal Niklusi and Ħal Qdieri were absorbed in Siġġiewi and today, only their secluded chapels remind us of their former existence.

Siġġiewi was already established in the 14th century. On December 30 1797, after a formal request by Don Salvatore Curso, on behalf of his parishioners, Grand Master Ferdinand Von Hompesch instituted the village as a city calling it after his name, "Città Ferdinand".

The ruins of the former parish church, dedicated to St Nicholas of Bari are still visible today. Lately, great restoration works have been carried out and retrieved its old glory. The imposing baroque parish church, dedicated to the same saint, was erected by the hardworking villagers who raised the necessary funds between the years 1676-1693. It was designed by the famous Maltese architect, Lorenzo Gafà but underwent some changes throughout the years. The portico and naves were added by Professor Nicola Żammit in the latter half of the 19th century.

The titular painting in the church is by the renowned artist Mattia Preti. 'Il calabrese', who was also responsible for the painting on the vault of St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. The wooden statue which is proudly carried in procession in the city feast day (the last Sunday of June) was sculptured by Pietro Felici in 1736. Fours years earlier, in 1732, the same sculptor had produced the magnificent stone statue which still stands in the centre of the spacious square. On its pedestal there is a beautiful prayer in Latin which implores the saint to bless the fields which the faithful laboriously till.

Siġġiewi has a lot to offer to the hundreds of tourists who visit each year. The view from the Inquisitor's summer palace, built by inquisitor Onorato Visconti in 1625 and renovated by inquisitor Angelo Dorini in 1763, is impressive. Today it is the Maltese Prime Minister's official residence. The huge iron cross on huge stone pedestal, erected in 1903 on the hilltop nearby (presumably the highest peak of the island) built at the turn of the century by Don Pawl Laferla (is-Salib ta' l-Għolja or Laferla Cross) is a well-known landmark. The palace of Grand Master Verdalle is one of the residences of the Presidents of the Republic. Adjoining this palace one finds the famous Buskett, a small forest which Grand Masters such as La Vallette used as hunting grounds.

Siġġiewi is also blessed with natural beauty. In the hot summer season, many flock to the picturesque bay of Għar Lapsi to enjoy peaceful atmosphere in a place which has changed but a little since the dawn of creation. From here the islet of Filfla can be seen on the horizon. The village stands on a flat plateau flanked by two relatively deep valleys (Wied il-Hesri and Wied Xkora) which give this locality a secluded feel - a rare aspect in Malta where almost all nearby villages are gradually being engulfed by Malta's only conurbation also known as Valletta's metropolitan area.

There are countless niches in practically every corner of the old part of the city. Some date back to the middle of the 17th century and are a sign of devotion, a tangible manifestation of faith, as well as an architectural decoration. The narrow, winding streets, the alleys branching off from them, the churches and the friendly and helpful people which one encounters are the distinctive features of an old city with a lot to give.

Siġġiewi Main Roads

1. Pjazza San Nikola (St Nicholas Square)
2. Triq Blat il-Qamar (Moon's Rocks Street)
3. Triq Bur il-Kbir
4. Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)
5. Triq il-Knisja l-Qadima (Old Church Street)
6. Triq il-Mitħna (Mill Street)
7. Triq il-Parroċċa (Parish Street)
8. Triq it-Tabib Nikola Zammit
9. Triq l-Imqabba (Mqabba Road)
10. Triq Lapsi
11. Triq Mikiel Azzopardi
12. Triq San Nikola (St Nicholas Street)
13. Triq Santa Margarita (St Margareth Street)
14. Triq tan-Nofs (Middle Street)
15. Triq Dun Manuel Zammit(Fr. Manuel Zammit Street)