Marsaskala or Marsascala is a modest sea-side village in Malta that has grown up around the small harbour at the head of Marsaskala Bay, a long narrow inlet also known as Marsaskala Creek. The bay is sheltered to the north by Ras iż-Żonqor, the south-east corner of Malta, and to the south by the headland of Ras il-Gżira.
The village extends along both sides of the bay, and across most of Il-Ħamrija, locally nicknamed Siberia due to its exposure to icy northerly winds in winter and because buildings there are deemed to be too cut off from the centre of the village and church area. Marsaskala boasts a rather modern church, and a very pleasant promenade of shops, restaurants and coffee shops along the long stretch of waterfront.
The shore north of Ras iż-Żonqor is of low cliffs, with shelving rock ledges south of the point. Marsaskala Bay is largely edged by promenade, with low shelving rock ledges cut with salt pans on the seaward face of Ras iċ-Ċerna, which continue on round the eastern point, past l-Abjad iż-Żgħir, and into Il-Bajja ta' San Tumas (St Thomas Bay) to the south.
Though not endowed with much in the way of sandy beaches, the environment is ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling, and the town boasts at least two diving schools.
The parish church is dedicated to Sant Anna (St. Anne) and St Anne's feast is celebrated at the end of July in Marsaskala.
The town has a winter population of 9,298 people, but this swells to around 20,000 in summer.
The name Marsascala is derived from Marsaskala. Different opinions exist regarding the origin of the name Marsaskala. While it is commonly agreed that Marsa is an Arabic word meaning bay, Skala has given rise to different interpretations. It could have been derived from Sqalli (Sicilian) for Marsaskala was frequented by Sicilian fishermen since Malta is just 60 miles south from Sicily. Maybe it was derived from the Sicilian 'Piccola Cala' meaning little inlet or it was just a reference to some rock-cut steps on the water's edge. (Skala also means a straight flight of steps).
Marsaskala is better known as Wied il-Għajn by the Maltese as the bay and the old small village are flanked by two valleys, through which a spring of fresh water used to flow down into the innermost bay. Wied means valley and Għajn (pronounced ayn) refers to the spring of fresh water. Literally, Wied il-Għajn means Valley of the Spring.
Marsaskala main roads
The village extends along both sides of the bay, and across most of Il-Ħamrija, locally nicknamed Siberia due to its exposure to icy northerly winds in winter and because buildings there are deemed to be too cut off from the centre of the village and church area. Marsaskala boasts a rather modern church, and a very pleasant promenade of shops, restaurants and coffee shops along the long stretch of waterfront.
The shore north of Ras iż-Żonqor is of low cliffs, with shelving rock ledges south of the point. Marsaskala Bay is largely edged by promenade, with low shelving rock ledges cut with salt pans on the seaward face of Ras iċ-Ċerna, which continue on round the eastern point, past l-Abjad iż-Żgħir, and into Il-Bajja ta' San Tumas (St Thomas Bay) to the south.
Though not endowed with much in the way of sandy beaches, the environment is ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling, and the town boasts at least two diving schools.
The parish church is dedicated to Sant Anna (St. Anne) and St Anne's feast is celebrated at the end of July in Marsaskala.
The town has a winter population of 9,298 people, but this swells to around 20,000 in summer.
The name Marsascala is derived from Marsaskala. Different opinions exist regarding the origin of the name Marsaskala. While it is commonly agreed that Marsa is an Arabic word meaning bay, Skala has given rise to different interpretations. It could have been derived from Sqalli (Sicilian) for Marsaskala was frequented by Sicilian fishermen since Malta is just 60 miles south from Sicily. Maybe it was derived from the Sicilian 'Piccola Cala' meaning little inlet or it was just a reference to some rock-cut steps on the water's edge. (Skala also means a straight flight of steps).
Marsaskala is better known as Wied il-Għajn by the Maltese as the bay and the old small village are flanked by two valleys, through which a spring of fresh water used to flow down into the innermost bay. Wied means valley and Għajn (pronounced ayn) refers to the spring of fresh water. Literally, Wied il-Għajn means Valley of the Spring.
Marsaskala main roads
- Triq Ħaż-Żabbar (Zabbar Road)
- Triq id-Daħla ta' San Tumas (St Thomas Bay Road)
- Triq il-Qaliet (Qaliet Street)
- Triq is-Salini (Salini Street)
- Triq ix-Xatt (Marina Street)
- Triq iż-Żonqor (Zonqor Road)
- Triq La Sengle (La Sengle Street)
- Triq San Ġużepp (St Joseph Street)
- Triq San Luqa (St Luke Street)
- Triq Sant' Anna (St Anne Street)
- Triq Sant' Antnin (Sant' Antnin Road)
- Triq Tal-Gardiel (Tal-Gardiel Road)
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