New & now
A blast from the past! Photos show Maltese women wearing the traditional ‘ghonnella’
The ‘ghonella’ is also sometimes referred to as the ‘faldetta’.

Emma Galea

A series of photos shared by Carmelo Gauci onto the Facebook group ‘Old Photos of Malta’, show many Maltese women wearing the ghonnella, a traditional piece of Maltese clothing.

Also referred to as the faldetta, the ghonella was a black women’s head dress and hooded cloak, generally made from cotton and silk.

One of the photos shows a Maltese woman wearing this beautiful garment while meeting a young Queen Elizabeth in Malta.

The other photos show other Maltese women going about their day wearing this traditional piece that is now no longer common.  

The origins of this Maltese garment are quite unclear, but many speculate that the ghonnella was heavily influenced through previous and similar Sicilian garments.

Nonetheless, the are many legends surrounding this topic. One legend states that a number of women from Celano in Italy were expelled in 1224 after their husbands were massacred by Frederick II. They arrived at Malta in mourning and the ghonnella was born.

Another legend states that poor Maltese girls would wear their skirts to go to church as they had to cover their head and they could not afford a shawl. Eventually this evolved into the ghonnella.

The ghonnella was worn by Maltese women throughout many centuries but it eventually fell out of popularity after World War II, as Malta started ushering in a more modern world.

Have you ever seen someone wearing the 'ghonnella' IRL?

6th April 2025


Emma Galea
Written by
Emma Galea
Emma is a Gozitan writer who loves all things related to English literature and history. When not busy studying or writing you will either find her immersed in a fictional book or at the cinema trying to watch as many films as she possibly can!

You may also like...
New & now
New & now
2nd and 3rd April 2022 were two important days in Malta's religious history.

Francesca Vella
New & now
New & now
New & now
The Co-Cathedral will be closed between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday

Francesca Vella
New & now
New & now
2nd April brought a break in the clouds that hung over the end of March

Francesca Vella