Saqqajja
Saqqajja is one of the main piazzas in Rabat which leads you to the old capital city of Mdina.
The name "Saqqajja" goes back to the Arab period and probably come from a spring of fresh water.[1] The spring that we see today was commissioned by Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt, when the aqueduct system was being designed between Rabat and Valletta.
In 1449, the Augustinian Friars exchanged land in Mellieħa with land outside the capital city of Mdina including the Saqqajja area. The friars built a convent and a cemetery but unfortunately this was removed to make space for a financial bank.
The niche of Saint Paul situated in the center of this piazza was built by Grandmaster António Manoel de Vilhena in 1727. When the Rabat population was experiencing famine, the plague and other sickness, this niche served as a refuge for those who wanted to find some console.
During the English rule in Malta, Saqqajja was developed further with the building of residential villas, Casino Notabile[2], Point de Vue and Villa Fringila.
The bus terminus and the nearby shopping outlets stimulated the area to become a social and commercial centre. It is also considered as a recreational place especially during the summer evenings.
Saqqajja is a piazza where those living in Rabat can celebrate their feasts, processions and other social and cultural activities.
35°52′58″N 14°24′10″E / 35.88278°N 14.40278°E