Birkirkara is one of Malta’s busiest towns. It is home to thousands of residents, shops and establishments but the town has gone through a lot of changes throughout the years.
The town is perhaps one of the oldest in all of Malta, with records dating all the way back to the 1400s.
It has experienced a lot of change throughout its years and the photos below truly give us an insight into how Birkirkara has progressed from the last 19th century to recent years.
The Birkirkara of the 1890s:
The road in the photo is Valley Road, perhaps Birkirkara’s busiest road. This road was once home to a footbridge that no longer exists. It helped people cross the street when Valley Road used to get so flooded after extreme rain.
A quaint street in the early 1900s:
In this shot, people can be seen in the doorsteps of St Rokku street on what seems to be a hot summer day. Women can also be observed wearing the traditional Maltese headdress, the ghonnella.
Vintage St Elena Street:
Probably taken sometime during the early 20th century, in this photo one can notice the mighty St Helen’s Basilica overlooking the alleyways that still surround it.
Karrozzini’s and Horses in Valley Road:
Today, thousands of cars pass through Valley Road every day but this was not always the case. This shot shows a horse ridden carriages passing through the road and even stopping by the nearby water trough for a refreshing drink.
A more picturesque Valley Road:
The horses water trough also features in this photo but from an opposite angle. This photo was likely taken on a Sunday as people can be seen strutting in their Sunday best alongside the road that leads to the Old Birkirkara Church.
A flooded car:
Till this very day whenever there are heavy rain showers, Birkirkara is one of the first localities in Malta to get flooded. This photo shows that no matter how much the times change, flooding in Birkirkara has always been an issue.
Malta’s vintage colourful buses:
This photo was likely taken some time around the 1970s and shows one of Malta’s traditional and colourful buses passing through Birkirkara while many ride around in more colourful motorcycles and cars.