Culture
A lost part of Medieval Malta! Exploring the no longer existing rural village of Hal Tartarni
People eventually moved to Dingli and the village ceased to be inhabited.

Emma Galea

Had-Dingli as we know it today did not always exist and was largely formed from a village which was once known as Hal Tartarni.

Hal Tartarni was found somewhere between Buskett and the Dingli we know of today.

It was one of ten villages who had their own parish church in 1436. This church was one which was dedicated to Saint Domenica.

Eventually by the early 16th century, the noble family Inguanez settled in the Dingli and they owned a lot of land. They started employing the residents of Hal Tartarni and people kept moving closer to Dingli to the point where Hal Tartarni ceased to continue existing.

The church dedicated to Saint Domenica eventually came to ruins and only remains can be found today.

However, Marc'Antonio Inguanez, a member of the noble family eventually built another church dedicated to San Domenica in Dingli when people from Hal Tartarni started moving there to work the land for him.

The church was built in 1669 and is still well preserved to this day.

Today, Hal Tartarni simply consists of mostly open fields together with the few remains of the old Sant Domenica church.

2nd February 2024


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!

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