ĦAL SAFI

Hal Safi is a small, ancient parish nestling among larger village neighbours in the vicinity of the airport.

Its name means `pure' and as if by design rather than coincidence, the villagers here managed to avoid succumbing to the various epidemics that swept the Island from medieval times to the late 19th century. Hal Safi's origins are straight from antiquity. The village has some fascinating examples of Moorish-style architecture.

Within the village limits are remains of what may have been a Roman villa. More discernible is the Roman watch tower of Ta' Gawhar. Hal Safi, although small, became a separate parish in 1598. Its church, dedicated to St. Paul, was built in 1744 but rebuilt after suffering extensive damage in World War II. The titular painting in the church is the work of a well-known Maltese artist working at that time, Stefano Erardi.