Birżebbuġa

Template:Towns (Malta) Birzebbugia (Maltese: Birżebbuġa or BʼBuġa) is a small but flourishing seaside resort not far from Marsaxlokk in south-east Malta and approximately 8 miles from the City of Valletta. Popular among Maltese holiday-makers for decades, this village is perhaps best known for its important archaeological sites (especially "Dalam's Cave" and "Borg in-Nadur") as well as its sandy beach, commonly known as "Pretty Bay".

The beach lies right in the town centre close to plenty of shops and restaurants along the coastline. Nonetheless, some others prefer the rocky shore in the neighbouring St George's Bay, ideal for sun bathing and snorkelling. Sailing also takes place here during spring and summer. St George's Bay is a lovely inlet used by local fishermen who moor their boats there. Next to the small chapel of St George's one can also find prehistoric cart ruts. The No 11 bus from City Gate Valletta takes approx 30 minutes and the fare is quite cheap. Buses run from the village to Valletta every 15 minutes.

Of Arabic origin, the village name "Birżebbuġa", literally meaning a "well of olives", not only proves the existence of early settlements in the south of the island since the first millennium, but it also evidences the typical climate and food consumed. Swelled with the influx of workers employed at the nearby Malta Freeport and container terminal during the last decade, as well as new residents from the neighbouring villages, Birzebbuġa now hosts some 10,000 people.

Birżebbuġa became a parish on the 9th September 1913. Some time afterwards, however, steps were taken to build a larger church than that of Our Lady of Sorrows which was opened for worship on the 12th June 1938. Birżebbuġa parish church is dedicated to St. Peter in Chains. The present parish priest is Rev. Fr Nicholas Pace.

Other fascinating churches in this town include: (1) the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (1909) which served as parish church till the present church was built, (2) St George's Church (1683), (3) the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, (4) the Immaculate Conception Church at Bengħisa (1822), (5) the Holy Family Chapel (1865), (6) the Chapel of Our Lady Help of Christians (1839) and (7) St Joseph’s Chapel (1671).

Coat of arms

Birżebbuġa's coat of arms shows a blue chevron and olive branch on a white field. The blue represents the nearby waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the olive branch is an indication of the once major importance of olives to the local economy.

History

In the vicinity of the village of Birżebbuġa there is Għar Dalam literally meaning a dark cave. Għar Dalam Cave is a highly important site as it was here that the earliest evidence of human presence on Malta was discovered, dating back to the Neolithic Period some 7,400 years ago. The display area consists of two parts: the cave and the museum, which exhibits a remarkable wealth of finds from animal bones to human artefacts. An overlaying river running at right angles formed the cave. It is some 144 metres deep, but only the first fifty metres are open to visitors. The lowermost layers, more than 500,000 years old, contain the fossil bones of dwarf elephants, hippopotami, micro-mammals and birds. Above the pebble layer that follows is the so-called ‘deer’ layer, dated to around 18,000 years ago. The top layer dates to less than 10,000 years and holds evidence of the first humans on the Island. Experts hold that these remains suggest that the Islands were once a land bridge to continental Europe.

Other remains include those of a prehistoric temple or settlement, Borg-in-Nadur, which date from the Bronze Age. The settlement was fortified with a large stone wall which is still visible today. These temples ruins are important because they appear to reveal not only a four-apse temple (c.2000 BC), but also an authentic fortified, Bronze Age domestic settlement. The remains of a large, defensive wall lie nearby, running across the head of a promontory between two valleys leading down to two bays. The wall was built facing the inland, and thus the village would have the sea to its back. This logistic situation leads scholars to believe that the people living in the village were much more afraid of being attacked from the land rather than the sea. Traces of the Bronze Age huts were discovered lying just behind the wall and the depth of the deposits was very shallow, covering the remains of the Temple Period. Archaeologists have found evidence, which shows that the Neolithic population became extinct and the islands were uninhabited. Archaeologists think that this could be due to no agricultural produce, or to civil warfare because of temple piques, or due to the Neolithic population being murdered by war-like tribes. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the three apses (semi-circular rooms) of the temple. Beyond the main entrance, there is a wide elliptical area about 25 m long and 15 m wide. As for now there is only left a Trilithon Entrance. Visits to these sites can be arranged by appointment.

Another cave to visit is Ghar Hasan situated right on the edge of a sheer cliff in the vicinity of Birzebbuga's Free Port, about 2.5 km along the road to Zurrieq. Walking from Birzebbuga to Ghar Hasan’s Cave is a 25 minute walk. According to legend, it was used by a 12th century Saracen pirate. The Turk, called Hasan, abducted a Maltese girl and kept her inside the cave. When discovered by the locals he preferred to kill the girl and commit suicide rather than be captured, so he hurled himself and the girl into the sea below. At the entrance of the cave, one can hire a torch for a very small fee so you can find your way around.

Other important historical structures include Ferretti Coastal Battery, and the Birżebbuġa entrenchments. These sited date back to the rule of the Knights of St. John.

Birżebbuġa Community Centres

• Birżebbuġa Local Council, Triq Santa Marija (St. Mary Street. Tel: 21 650 165) website

• Birżebbuġa Police Station, Triq il-Bajja s-Sabiħa (Pretty Bay Strand)

• St. Peter in Chains Parish Church, Triq il-Kurat Fenech (Curate Fenech Street. Tel: 21 651 200)

• SDC (M.U.S.E.U.M.) Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)

• Birżebbuġa Health Centre, Triq San Filippu (St. Philip Street)

• Birżebbuġa A Primary School, Triq San Mikiel (St. Michael Street)
• Birżebbuġa B Primary School, Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)

• Birżebbuġa MLP Club, Triq il-Bajja s-Sabiħa (Pretty Bay Strand)
• Birżebbuġa PN Club, Triq il-Bajja s-Sabiħa (Pretty Bay Strand)

• Birżebbuġa Branch Post Office, Triq Żaren Dalli (Dalli Street)

• Birżebbuġa Sailing Club website

• Birżebbuġa Scouts Group website

Band Clubs

• Ghaqda Muzikali Birzebbuga – Banda San Pietru Fil-Ktajjen A. D. 1957
• Socjetà Filarmonika San Pietru Banda Birżebbuġa A. D. 1990

Radio stations

• Energy FM

Zones in Birżebbuġa

• Bengħajsa
• Brolli
• Girgħien
• Iċ-Ċnus
• Il-Blajta
• Il-Gżira
• Ix-Xoqqiet
• Kalafrana
• L-Arblu
• L-Artal
• L-Imwadar
• Pretty Bay
• Qajjenza
• Il-Bajja ta' San Ġorg
• Ta' B'Xejn
• Ta' Ġiliġejla
• Ta' Sansajna
• Ta' Żgħer
• Tal-Germun
• Tal-Għarajjex
• Tal-Għawejra
• Tal-Papa
• Wied il-Buni
• Wied il-Qoton
• Wied ix-Xoqqa
• Wied Mobol

Birżebbuġa Main Roads

• Dawret il-Qalb Imqaddsa (Sacred Heart By-Pass)
• Misraħ is-Summit Bush-Gorbachev (Bush-Gorbachev Summit Square)
• Triq Birżebbuġa (Birżebbuġa Road)
• Triq F.M.Ferretti (Ferretti Street)
• Triq Għar Dalam (Dalam Cave Road)
• Triq Għar Ħasan (Hasan Cave Road)
• Triq Ħal-Far (Hal-Far Road)
• Triq il-Port Ħieles (Freeport Street)
• Triq il-Qajjenza (Qajjenza Road)
• Triq iż-Żejtun (Zejtun Road)
• Triq S.Cachia Zammit (S.Cachia Zammit Street)
• Triq San Filippu (St Philip Street)
• Triq San Ġorġ (St George Street)
• Triq San Patrizju (St Patrick Street)
• Triq Tal-Ġebel
• Triq Żarenu Dalli (Zaren Dalli Street)
• Xatt il-Bajja s-Sabiħa (Pretty Bay Strand)

Interesting Places at B'Bugia

• Cold War Monument (at Sacred Heart Promenade)
• Fort Benghisa (at Benghisa)
• Ghar Dalam Prehistoric Site (at Ghar Dalam Road)
• Borg in-Nadur Bronze Age Site (at Nadur Lane)
• Malta Freeport (at Kalafrana Road)
• Our Lady of Sorrows Old Church (at Church Street)
• St. Peter in Chains Church (at Birzebbuga Road)
• Il-Bajja ta' Birzebbuga - Birzebbuga Bay (renamed 'Pretty Bay' by British residents in the early 1900s; also known to locals as ix-Xatt ta' Birzebbuga, Birzebbuga Sea Front)
• Il-Bajja ta' San Gorg - St George's Bay