LOCAL
WORDS MATTHEW CAMILLERI (TOUR GUIDE AT COLOUR MY TRAVEL)
OFF THE BEATEN TR ACK MQABBA
MQABBA, LOCATED IN THE SOUTH OF MALTA, CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A TRADITIONAL MALTESE VILLAGE. WITH A POPULATION OF AROUND 3,300 INHABITANTS, IT SITS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BUT IS STILL RELATIVELY RURAL COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE ISLAND. ITS NAME POSSIBLY DERIVES FROM THE SEMITIC VERB ‘QABB’, WHICH MEANS CUTTING STONE: THE AREA AROUND MQABBA HAS LONG BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH QUARRYING ACTIVITY. Numerous archaeological discoveries have shed light on the
their main purpose being that of participating in the annual feast
historical importance of the area: from bones of hippopotami
dedicated to the village’s patron saint. The main feast in Mqabba is
dating from the Pleistocene era, to burial sites from the Neolithic,
that of the Assumption, celebrated every 15th August, although a
Punic, Roman and Early-Christian periods. Yet the village in its
secondary feast, dedicated to Our Lady of Lilies, is also celebrated
current form can trace its origins to the late 16th century, when
in June. A very important element of these feasts are fireworks,
Mqabba became its own separate parish.
something for which Mqabba is particularly renowned.
THE PARISH CHURCH
CHAPELS
Like most traditional Maltese villages, Mqabba was built around
Also located around the main square are a number of historic
its parish church, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. Built
chapels. Built in 1486, the Chapel of St Basil is the oldest, and the
on the site of a number of older, smaller churches, the present
only church in the Maltese Islands with this particular dedication.
structure was completed by 1699. Most of the building is still
Next door is the chapel of St Michael the Archangel, which was
original, including the 17th century bell tower, which has a total of
once approached via an old graveyard used to bury plague victims.
seven bells, but the dome had to be rebuilt after the church was
Directly across from the parish church is the chapel dedicated to St
bombed during World War Two.
Catherine. This too dates back to the late 16th century, although the present structure is more recent.
BAND CLUBS Another staple of most village squares are the local band clubs, of
HOSPITAL
which Mqabba has two - the Lily Band Club and the King George V
Another interesting building is the recently restored Old Hospital
Band Club. Band clubs in Malta date to the mid-19th century, with
situated in St Innocent Street. The inscription attached to its
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