Passing through Zabbar, it is almost impossible to miss the grandiosity that is Hompesch Gate, but did you know the history behind it?

The gate dates all the way back to 1801 and it was built by Grand Master John Ferdinand von Hompesch.

Hompesch Gate was meant to honour this Knights of St John Grand Master who elevated Zabbar’s status to that of a city in 1797. In fact, he gave Zabbar the title of Città Gratiosae Hompesch.

He had visited the feast of Zabbar in that same year where he was asked by the village priest Don Carlo Caruana to declare the village as a city. 

However, the French invaded Malta in 1798 and the gate was finished by December of 1801 instead.

Nonetheless, due to the political turmoil Malta was still under, no direct reference was made to the Grand Master. An armorial crest was supposed to be set up on the arch but plans did not follow through.