From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the international Balzan prize and its donator, Eugenio Balzan, see
Balzan Prize.
Balzan (or Ħal-Balzan) is the name of a small village found towards the centre of the Maltese Islands in the Mediterranean sea. It is one of the so called three villages, together with Attard and Lija.
The village originally consisted of a group of small dwellings and farms, but eventually grew, becoming a parish in the 17th century. Presently the village has around 3,400 inhabitants, the younger generation living on the outskirts of the village. Local council elections take place every three years.
[edit] Etymology
The name Balzan is thought to be French in origin The nickname origin of Balzan comes from Midi in France and refers to "cheval Balsan" or a horse with white stockings. The nickname Balsan or Balzan is ultimately derived from the ancient French "baucent" meaning white. This regional French surname was given to a man of great equestrian ability.
The village of Balzan was named after Maximillian Balzan who was a Spanish merchant who settled in Malta in 1567. He married a Maltese girl. He was granted a large area of land (which became the village of Balzan) for services rendered to Grandmaster Jean de la Vallette and the Knights of the Order of St John. This land was known as ta-Balzan and nicknamed "il-moru" (the Maure - meaning the place in Spain occupied by the Maures. The orange trees in Balzan were imported by Maximillian from Granada in Spain.
[edit] Culture
The parish church, built in the mid-17th century, is dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady. The church is built in the form of a Latin cross, has one belfry and an elegant dome that can be seen from all around the village. The church is built on a Tuscan style from the outside and Doric on the inside. The statue used in the village feast celebrated on the 2nd week of July, is carved in wood by Salvatore Dimech (is-sarc) and shows our lady and Gabriel the Archangel. The parish also celebrates the feast of St. Valentine, which gave the name to the village radio station, Radio Valentine, which closed down officially in 2006.
As with Attard and Lija, Balzan is a sought after location and popular with the middle and upper middle classes. Its residents' political affiliation is predominantly that of the Nationalist Party (PN), a centre-right political party currently in government. Lately its population has increased due to large-scale development taking place, largely in the form of apartment blocks replacing villas and their gardens. However, this is mainly occurring on the outskirts of the village, and not the historic centre. Due to the fact that the majority of Balzan is an Urban Conservation Area, most of its unique character will remain for years to come.
- Balzan Parish Church Office, Triq Idmejda (Idmejda Road)
- Balzan Local Council, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Balzan Police Station, Pjazza Bertu Fenech (Robert Fenech Square)
- Balzan Health Centre, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Balzan Branch Post Office, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Balzan Malta Labour Party Club, Triq it-Tliet Knejjes (Three Churches Street)
- Balzan Nationalist Party Club, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
[edit] Band Clubs
- Mary the Annunciation Philarmonic Society (Is-Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Annunzjata)
- St. Gabriel Band Club (L-Għaqda Mużikali San Gabriel)
[edit] Balzan Main Roads
- Triq Wied Ħal-Balzan (Balzan Valley Road)
- Triq Cauchi (Cauchi Street)
- Triq Micallef (Micallef Street)
- Triq L`isqof Giovanni Balaguer (Balaguer Street)
- Triq Ġużè Bonnici
- Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Triq L-Imdina (Mdina Road)
- Pjazza B.Fenech (B.Fenech Square)
- Triq Birbal (Birbal Street)
- Triq il-Ferrovija l-Qadima (Old Railway Road)
- Triq il-Kannizata
- Vjal De Paule (De Paule Avenue)
[edit] Interesting Places at Balzan
[edit] Old Village Core
- Pjazza Bertu Fenech (Robert Fenech Square)
- Trejqa l-Papa Alessandru VII (Pope Alexander VII Path)
- Triq Ġużè Bonnici (G. Bonnici Street)
- Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)
- Triq it-Tliet Knejjes (Three Churches Street)
- Triq l-Annunzjata (Annunciation Street)
- Triq l-Idmejda (Dmejda Street)
- Triq San Rokku (St. Roque's Street)
- Triq Sisner (Sisner Street)
[edit] Zones in Balzan
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Malta
