Learning more about where you come from is always a great thing to do. Discovering more about your hometown, the meaning of its name and, possibly, even sussing out the first settlers of your land. Pretty fascinating stuff! What about your local in Malta or Gozo? Do you know enough about your hometown? Here are some localities you ought to know more about.
Sliema
A seaside city, Sliema is one of the most popular entertainment localities in Malta. Apart from it’s shopping, restaurant and business side, Sliema also offers its visitors a sense of peace, which might sound strange due to the hustle and bustle that surrounds the area, but if you’re from Sliema you probably think otherwise. Sliema’s name was given to the area when the 1855 chapel dedicated to Our Lady of The Sea (or Stella Maris as it is more commonly known) was built. This building served as a reference point to the fishermen in the area and linked them to the Catholic prayer, Hail Mary, which in Maltese utters, “Sliem ghalik Marija”.
The word sliem means peace or comfort - a characteristic that this quaint fishing village once oozed. Whether you agree with its name today, or not, is a whole other story.
Valletta
Valletta is our current capital city and home to some of Malta’s most glorious architecture, art and sculpture. But, this hub for creativity and reverence to the arts was not always a thriving area and Valletta owes much to the Knights of St John. They decided to build something on the land - known as Mount Sciberras - in 1565 after the Great Siege and it was then that the Knights decided to invest their architectural know-how into the island.
Under the order of Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valete, Valletta was created. His namesake was designed by Francesco Laparelli, architect to Pope Pius IV and assisted by Girolamo Cassar, a Maltese architect. These influential folk are to be thanked for the stunning city we call our capital.
St Paul’s Bay
A biblical reference takes us to a seafaring village whose fortunes where changes during a massive tempest. A great shipwreck took place in the whereabouts of St Paul’s islands when Paul, formerly known as Saul, was being taken to Rome for a cruel punishment he was thought to be guilty of and he was, thus, was taken away from Caesarea for judgement.
But, as fate would have it, a wild shipwreck, a snake bite and a few odd glances later, this island opened up to Catholic belief. So with Paul, this spot was given not only a new name but also our religious faith.
Zejtun
Città Beland - a city conferred by GrandMaster Ferdinand von Hompesch in the 18th century; a city in the south eastern part of the island of Malta and one with a long and curious history. Zejtun, before the Order of the Knights of St John renamed it, was known as Casale Santa Caterina. With its patron saint as its namesake, in the 19th century, Zejtun got its final name (in reference to the Maltese word for oil: zejt) and is now a significant destination for commercial, art historical and cultural worth.
One of the key features of the area has to be the Church of St Catherine, an architectural structure constructed under the guidance of Lorenzo Gafà - the most famous architect of the time. Inside, Gio Nicola Buhagiar and Francesco Zahra are two of the local artists who added to the decorative interior of the building.
Zebbug, Gozo
Zebbug means olive in Maltese and much like the Maltese village of Zebbug, the Gozitan version is also a great spot to sit and enjoy village life. Zebbug, Gozo is our focus here and can be found on the top of a hill towards the northern area of the island. The altitude here allows visitors to enjoy the panoramic view of the Gozitan green as well as the contrasting blue of the wonderful Mediterranean sea.
Zebbug, Gozo, is also known for its decorative use of onyx - a natural stone that was found on a slope facing Gordan Lighthouse. This semi-precious beauty can be seen in churches such as the parish dedicated to Santa Marija, where ornate sculptures and other features of the church still stand.
Victoria
Victoria is the capital of Gozo and what a splendid capital it is! Its best feature must be the newly restored Citadel which houses some of the island’s finest art and architectural wonders. The area of Victoria has two names it goes by, Rabat and Victoria. The later is known to have been given to the city with Queen Victoria in mind.
The Maltese always have a certain amount of reverence to the British crown and this is seen in the naming of cities. Victoria is stunning, it’s popular, it’s somewhat regal - quite fitting if you think about it!
These charming destinations are all great for their culture and entertainment. Which hometowns would you like to learn more about?