Balzan
Balzan
Ħal Balzan Casal Balzano | |
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 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto: Hortibus undique septa | |
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| Coordinates: 35°53′53″N 14°27′12″E / 35.89806°N 14.45333°E | |
| Country |  Malta |
| Region | Central Region |
| District | Western District |
| Established | 1419–1420[1] |
| Borders | Attard, Birkirkara, Iklin, Lija |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dr. Ian Spiteri (PN) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Population (March 2014) | |
| • Total | 3,958 |
| • Density | 6,600/km2 (17,000/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Balzani (m), Balzanija (f), Balzanin (pl) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | BZN |
| Dialing code | 356 |
| ISO 3166 code | MT-02 |
| Patron saint | Annunciation St. Valentine |
| Day of festa | 2nd Sunday of July 14 February |
| Website | Official website |
| Three villages of Malta |
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Balzan (Maltese: Ħal Balzan) is a municipality in the Central Region of Malta, 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. As of March 2014 the town has 3,958 inhabitants.[2]
Etymology
In Malta, many village names are identical to certain family names, as in Attard and Lija. It is believed by some, therefore, that the village inherited its name from a family whose family name was Balzan.
Balsan (Balzan) literally means tax collector or contributions collector. The tax collector must have been from the same parish, at the time forming part of Birkirkara.[3]
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. The 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. The majority of Balzan is an Urban Conservation Area.
Balzan Community Service
- Ħal Balzan Parish Church Office, Triq Idmejda (Idmejda Road)
- Ħal Balzan Local Council, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Ħal Balzan Police Station, Pjazza Bertu Fenech (Robert Fenech Square)
- Ħal Balzan Health Centre, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Ħal Balzan Branch Post Office, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Ħal Balzan Malta Labour Party Club, Triq it-Tliet Knejjes (Three Churches Street)
- Ħal Balzan Nationalist Party Club, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
Band Clubs
- St. Gabriel Band Club (Każin Tal-Banda San Gabriel) - St. Gabriel Band Club Website
- Mary the Annunciation Philharmonic Society (Is-Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Annunzjata)
Interesting Places at Ħal Balzan
- Church of the Annunciation (Pjazza Bertu Fenech / Triq il-Kbira)
- Good Shepherd Convent (Triq l-Idmejda)
- Stella Maris College (Triq il-Kbira)
- St. Francis Convent (Triq San Frangisk)
- Wignacourt Aqueduct (Triq l-Imdina)
- The Three Churches (Triq it-Tliet Knejjes)
- Malta Hospice Movement (Vjal il-Buon Pastur)
- Fra Giuseppe Zammit Summer Residence (Behind Church)
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Parish church of Balzan during the festa -
Old Announciation Church -
Church and convent of the Good Shepherd -
Church of St.Mary -
Church of St.Roque -
Niche of St Roque -
Pjazza Bertu Fenech -
Solerville -
Dar El-Hana (Libyan Embassy) -
Villa Macedonia (Spanish Embassy) -
Palazzo Bosio, Triq it-Tlett Knejjes -
Aqueduct and cross
Further readng
References
- ^ "History of Balzan". Balzan Local Council. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ^ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Abela, Giovanni Francesco (1647). Della Descrizione di Malta Isola nel Mare Siciliano con le sue Antichità, ed Altre Notizie (in Italian). Paolo Bonacota. p. 89.
External links
| Malta Local councils |
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| Malta Administrative committees | ||
| Gozo Local councils | ||
| Gozo Administrative committees | ||
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