Bormla is the least visited of Malta's Three Cities, yet is full of character in its own right.
Bormla (also known as Cospicua) is one of those places where you can spend a good part of the day just walking around its streets amidst interesting architectural details and an evidently rich culture. Its old architecture remains untouched, and, with much of the city being built on five slight hills, you'll be exposed to pretty views of the surrounding Birgu and Senglea, with the dockyards in the vicinity providing an interesting backdrop.
Observe the architecture
Architecture-wise, Bormla is incredibly interesting to discover. The city is surrounded by grand fortified walls and beautiful gates - which make up the Santa Margarita Lines and the Cottonera Lines. Within the heart of Bormla, as well as in the dock area, one can find plenty of Georgian architecture. The streets are still aligned with beautiful old houses, seemingly untouched by development, and well-loved details such as wrought iron designs and religious niches.
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You'll also come across narrow alleys which are filled with flights of stairs leading up to one or two houses. Saint Helen’s Gate (Vilhena Gate) is one of the beautifully-carved stone gates around the city, but as you walk along Cospicua's streets, it is not the only one you may come across.
Churches
For each and every Maltese town is a number of churches and chapels, and Bormla is no different. The Parish church of the Immaculate Conception, the church of St Theresa, and the chapels of St Paul and St Margaret are attractions within the locality, and all merely minutes away from one another by foot.
Roam around
The streets in Bormla are full of the little surprises which attribute to the character of rural towns in Malta and Gozo. Niches, old typography, vegetables trucks, doughnut vans and old barber shops remain part and parcel of Bormla’s streets, giving it that much more character.
Visit Bir Mula Heritage
The name ‘Bormla’ comes from ‘Bir Mula’ which means ‘the well of the Lord’. Bir Mula Heritage Museum is on St Margerita Hill and looks like your typical Bormla house from the outside, however its walls hold a large array of history and mystery from prehistoric times; speaking volumes about Bormla’s ethnogoraphy and social history. Its history is deep and intriguing, from being a spot for punic cults to being the location within which secretive meetings were held during the times of the Knights of St John, amongst others. Bir Mula Heritage opens on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am till noon, or by appointment to book a private viewing.
Take a stroll on Bormla’s newly-renovated Dock 1
Cospicua's Dock 1 makes for a nice walk following its urban regeneration (completed in 2014 by local firm Architecture Project). Linked by a 40-metre steel bridge, you can cross to another one of the three cities, Senglea, opening a whole new window of possibilities for things to discover.
