ĦAŻ-ŻABBAR

Ħaż-Żabbar lies just inland from the Three Cities and shares a common history.

The Cottonera Lines of landward fortifications reach the outskirts of Ħaż-Żabbar. The town was used as an encampment by the Ottoman armies at the outset of the Great Siege and later as a base by the Maltese insurgents against French rule in around 1800. Ħaż-Żabbar was granted city status by the last Grand Master on Malta, Ferdinand de Hompesch, in whose name the population built a triumphal arch on the main approach road from Paola. While Ħaż-Żabbar today is a large town, the old centre, with its narrow alleys and small square, is characteristic of Maltese villages.

The historical highlight of Ħaż-Żabbar is the Parish Church of Our Lady of Graces, which has one of the most monumental and ornate baroque exteriors on the Islands. The Ħaż-Żabbar Sanctuary Museum under the church houses an interesting collection showing the link between the Order of St. John and the institution of the church. It is open every Sunday 0900hrs till 1200hrs.

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Discovering Malta & Gozo Through its People & Culture

A project initiated by the Ministry for Tourism, the Environment and Culture in 2011 has led to the development of a number of itineraries for villages and towns which are considered to be on the periphery with regard to mainstream tourism, but which nonethelss showcase the real and authentic experience of the Maltese Islands.

Ħaż-Żabbar was one of the localities included in the third set of itineraries and maps developed for this project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ħaż-Żabbar
Itinerary and Map