MALTA GOES RURAL
Hal-Millieri (Qrendi - Mqabba - Żurrieq)
walk
walk
MALTA GOES RURAL
Hal-Millieri (Qrendi - Mqabba - Żurrieq)
While walking through these three villages, one will experience the medieval aspects of the villages, the baroque parish churches that dominate them, and the surrounding countryside. You can follow this route on foot or on bike.
will reach the Ħal-Millieri area, the location of an abandoned medieval village and from which the other villages of Żurrieq (first), Qrendi and Mqabba came into being. Walk along this newly-paved street D1 and you will reach a gate set amongst a boundary wall. This surrounds the important medieval church dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin. Further on, you will reach an opening; where there is another church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, and a stone cross. It is believed that the church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist faced the main square of the village, where a stone cross still stands, typical of other village squares in Malta. First documented in the 15th century, the church was abandoned for a number of years, until it was restored in 1822 and then enlarged to its present size in the beginning of the 20th century. The present painting of the titular is a copy of the original, and it depicts an inspired St. John in the act of writing.
Our walk starts from the Qrendi main square , which is easily reachable by public transport. This square is dominated by the parish church, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, and the premises of the Soċjetà Mużikali Santa Marija, one of the band club associations that is to be found in this village. On the left-hand side of the church, one can notice an interesting façade, with a number of niches - a typical devotional street decoration in Malta. To the right of the parish church there is a statue of Our Lady, and one can start the walk by crossing over into Triq il-Parroċċa. After about 100 metres, one reaches another small square, with the premises of the second band club dominating the area. This association is called Soċjetà Mużikali Lourdes Qrendi. 1
Take the street onto the left-hand side - Triq San Nikola - and continue walking for another 100 metres and then turn right into Triq it-Torri 2 . This narrow street is dominated by a well-preserved octagonal tower, the only one of its kind in Malta. Today this is a private residence. Continue along the street 3 , pass by Triq Depiro, and continue until you reach the street corner leading into Triq is-Salvatur. Turn left into Triq Santa Katerina 4 . On the right-hand side you will notice a wall surrounding a large garden, known as the Commander’s Garden (Ġnien tal-Kmand). This garden dates to the beginning of the 19th century, when the British ruled Malta. The garden should be visited if open.
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Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007 - 2013 Axis 3 - Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Areas Project part-financed by the European Union The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union, 25% Government of Malta Europe Investing in Rural Areas
The Church dedicated to the Annunciation once served the now-deserted settlement of Ħal-Millieri. It was constructed around 1450 on the site of an earlier one which pre-dated it by about two centuries. Archaeological excavations have shown that these successive shrines stand over the remains of an extensive Roman rural complex whose megaliths and remains still litter the area. The church is surrounded by cemeterial grounds which mark, among others, the resting place of victims of the 1592 and 1813 plague epidemics. The grounds also preserve the ruins of another church dedicated to the Visitation of the Virgin which abutted the Annunciation and was closed down in 1658.
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Retrace your steps towards the fork 16 and keep on walking to the other end of the lane. Turn left into Triq l-Imqabba 17 . This is a straight street leading towards the newer part of Żurrieq. Take the left turn into Triq Tal-Kmand 18 19 and left turn once more into Triq Serafin Zarb. Once you reach the main road 20 , cross to the other side, and keep on walking on the left side 21 23 . This street is called Vjal ix-Xarolla, and leads to the 18thcentury windmill, a cluster of catacombs, and a small church.
Keep walking along the street until you reach a wide opening. Turning right into Triq l-Imqabba 5 , you will pass by another small countryside church dedicated to St. Catherine. Many churches in Malta are dedicated to this saint for whom there is great devotion, particularly those living in this area. In fact, as you will see, the Żurrieq parish church is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The fact that a number of churches in nearby villages are dedicated to the same saint indicates the evolution of villages over time as people from one village moved to nearby areas and over the passage of time established new living communities and thus new villages. However, even when people moved to a different geographical area, they retained the same devotions and beliefs.
This area is quite unique and interesting since the Xarolla windmill proudly stands over a honeycomb of catacombs and is flanked by an old church dedicated to St. Andrew. Opposite this complex, on the other side of the road, there is an old workshop, which belongs to a farrier, quite a necessary trade in this area in days gone by. This windmill was built in 1724 by the Fondazione Manoel, however it has seen a number of structural changes over the years. The windmill is open on Saturday and Sunday mornings and entrance is against a nominal fee. Note that this is the only fully working windmill on the Maltese Islands so a visit is a must. The catacombs, forming part of a Roman necropolis, indicate that this area was active during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Remains of a Byzantine presence during the 6th and 7th century AD have also been found. Nearby one can also see the church dedicated to St. Andrew. This is a 16th-century church and like many others it replaced an older one which stood on the same grounds. The first documents that mention this church date back to 1594.
Keep walking along the road, until you reach a roundabout. Take the left-hand turning 6 and walk into the next village, Mqabba. At one corner of the square, Diamond Jubilee Square, there are three small structures covering the entrances to early Christian burial chambers. These catacombs are known as Tal-Mintna, the name by which this area is known.
Here you might encounter some other ramblers following another rural walk – the Windmills Walk (blue) which takes one round the villages of Żurrieq and Safi. If you are interested in the history of windmills, make it a point to follow this walk some day.
Proceed into the village, by taking Triq Santa Katerina 7 (once again the name of the street is dedicated to this saint), until one reaches Triq Innoċenzju 8 . Further down this street, on the left-hand side, there is a 16th-century building, which was used as a temporary hospital, especially during plague epidemics. In recent years, it has been restored and is used as a cultural centre. Keep on walking down and take the first turning on the left. Keep along this narrow and winding road named Triq Mikielanġ Sapiano 9 until you reach the main street of the village. Further up the street, one comes across the parish church dedicated to The Assumption of Our Lady. The devotion towards our Lady is manifested all over Malta and Gozo not least in this area. Two out of these three villages which we will be visiting today (Qrendi and Mqabba) are dedicated to the Assumption of our Lady, whilst in Żurrieq apart from the devotion towards St. Catherine of Alexandria, there is a big devotion towards our Lady of Mt Carmel. In Qrendi and Mqabba both major feasts are dedicated to Our Lady with the titular feast in both villages being that of the Assumption of Our Lady whilst the secondary feasts are dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes (Qrendi) and Our Lady of the Lily (Mqabba). All three villages hold grand feasts for these saints with spectacular street marches, street decorations and unique fireworks shows. If you happen to be in Malta at this time, it is a must to visit these feasts. The devotion towards these saints is also manifested in street names as well as names given to children.
Keeping the windmill and the chapel behind you, cross the busy street and once on the other side, walk into Triq Sant’Andrija which is on the left-hand side 24 and then turn left into Triq San Bartilmew 25 . Soon you will reach the church dedicated to this saint (St. Bartholomew). This small baroque church is one of the most decorated in the area and the present building dates back to 1784. Keep on walking along this street until you reach the main square of Żurrieq, Misraħ Mattia Preti, with the parish church and the hub of the village all concentrated in this area. Żurrieq was made a parish in 1436 however the locals started building this church during the 17th century on the place where two other smaller churches stood. The project took many years to complete with the aisles being completed only in the 20th century. The titular painting dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria was painted by the famous Italian artist Mattia Preti il calabrese (1613-1699) who stayed in Malta between 1661 and 1699. You can buy a snack or drink from one of the local band clubs or one of the many village pubs which are situated in the main square or nearby. This area is also the start and end point of the Windmills Walk (blue). From here you can take the bus back to your hotel.
On the right there is the chapel dedicate to St. Catherine whilst on the left-hand side one can notice the premises of one of the band clubs of the village, namely Our Lady of Lilies Musical Society. On the other side of the square there is the second band club of the village, named Society of St. Mary & King George V Band. Take the right-hand turning on the side of the church 10 and walk for a few metres down Triq San Bażilju, until you notice two small churches on the right-hand side. The yard, which used to be a small cemetery, is protected by a wall and railing. The older church is dedicated to St. Basil, while the other one is dedicated to St. Michael.
Bus route No 71 operates the following route: Valletta - Floriana - Hamrun - Marsa - Luqa - Kirkop - Safi - Zurrieq Bus route No 72 operates the following route: Valletta - Floriana - Hamrun - Marsa - Luqa - Kirkop - Safi - Zurrieq Bus route No 73 operates the following route: Valletta - Floriana - Hamrun - Marsa - Luqa - Kirkop - Safi - Zurrieq
The next few hundred metres will take you through the village of Mqabba. Further down this road, you should turn on the right-hand side into Triq San Mikiel 11 , then right and left into Triq Karmenu Ciantar. At the end of this road, you will reach the main street of Mqabba, known locally as “the bypass”. Turn right into Triq il-Konvoj ta’ Santa Marija 12 , until you reach the Christian catacombs that you walked past earlier on. Across the street, on the left-hand side there is Triq iż-Żurrieq which leads into the countryside 13 .
Bus route No 74 operates the following route: Valletta - Floriana - Hamrun - Marsa - Luqa - Mqabba - Qrendi - Zurrieq Length of walk approx 5.60km *
This is a country road 14 15 and you are advised to pay attention as it is very narrow and you might encounter some traffic. When you reach a fork in the road 16 , turn left and you
It is the responsibility of individuals to approach outdoor activities with caution. Walking and
any other countryside activity can be strenuous or dangerous and individuals should ensure that they are fit enough before embarking upon it. The MTA will not be held responsible for any loss of personal items and injuries of individuals following this walk.
Be Prepared… be sure to wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes and clothing which is appropriate for the time of the year. Allow enough time to complete the walk in broad daylight. Make allowances for time required for resting, taking photographs and observing nature and/or places of interest. In some of the walks you will come across churches and other places of religious devotion. Please keep in mind that these are places of worship and due respect must be given if approaching or entering such places. One should not wander in such places if an official religious function is underway. Please keep in mind that in the Maltese Islands cars drive on the left-hand side. Maltese is the official language of the Maltese Islands and an official EU language. The Maltese language is spoken only on the Maltese Islands. Road signs in Malta are in Maltese. Some basic translations that will help you throughout the walk: Triq - Street, Vjal - Avenue, Sqaq - Alley, Ġnien - Garden. Plan ahead and follow all the signs throughout the route. This is the Yellow Walk so please follow the Yellow signs. It is very easy to get distracted by the surrounding scenery while taking your country walk. Short cuts are to be avoided as many fields are privately owned. You will encounter many ‘RTO’ signs meaning ‘Riservato’. The markings indicate private property.
the road
Tips for
Emergency Number: 112 This route is rated as Easy More information on places of interest such as churches, can be found on the informational panels that are installed along this route. Be culturally sensitive and respect local customs. Take photographs but respect the privacy of others. Respect the fragility of the countryside. Do not climb over rubble walls or throw stones into valleys or over cliffs. Refrain from taking any ‘souvenirs’ back home with you. Do not disturb animals, plants or their natural habitats. Leave only your footprint behind you and nothing else. In some valleys and gorges, mobile phone reception may be poor or there may be none at all. Cliff tops are magnificent areas but they also present potential hazards. Always keep a safe distance from the cliff edges, especially on windy days, or if the ground is covered by loose gravel or is slippery due to rainfall. Bird trapping and hunting are practised in the countryside. There are, however, strict regulations determining areas where such activities are permitted and the time of the year when no such activities are allowed.
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MALTA GOES RURAL Ix-Xagħri tal-Imqalleb
Hal-Millieri
11
Tal-Mentna
Mqabba Parish Church
9
walk
(Qrendi - Mqabba - Żurrieq)
St. Basil and St. Michael Chapels
8
Tax-Xatba l-Ħamra
12
Tal-Ħaġra
MQABBA 7
Old Hospital Tal-Landier Tas-Sejba
Il-Mentna
13
14
Mintna Catacombs Tal-Ħal Millieri
Tal-Warda
15
Tal-Mitħna
Ħal Millieri Chapels and Cross
16
6
5
ROUTE WALK
BICYCLE
Tal- Gonna
D1
RESTAURANT
Tal-Ħida Ta’ Dusa
CHURCH
Ta’ Ħarmanin
Octagonal Tower
Il-Marsa
HERITAGE SITE
Ta’ Midri
BUS STOP
3
St. Catherine Chapel
17
Ta’ Buglar
2 4
Il-Ħofra
Ġnien Tal-Kmand
Tal-Għaġuża 19
QRENDI
1
22
START
Tal-Glud
20
18
Ta’ Santu Rokku
Il-Għadir
21
23
Il-Fulija Tal-Bebbux
Qrendi Parish Church
Ta’ Mnejqet
ZURRIEQ Ta’ Ħal-Lew
25
Tal-Ħniena 24
Zurrieq Parish Church
Xarolla Windmill
END It is the responsibility of individuals to approach outdoor activities with caution. Walking and any other countryside activity can be strenuous or dangerous and individuals should ensure that they are fit enough before embarking upon it. The MTA will not be held responsible for any loss of personal items and injuries of individuals following this walk. *
St. Bartholomew Chapel