Churches & Festas in Malta & Gozo
One of the dominating aspects of Malta, which is in itself a tourist attraction, is the Catholic Religion which has succeeded to survive as the religion of the people notwithstanding centuries of domination by different rulers, not all of whom were Catholics. St Paul of Tarsus brought Christianity to Malta as far back as AD 60, having been shipwrecked there in a huge north-easterly storm. According to tradition St Paul was on the way to Rome, under guard, to face trial before the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar for allegedly preaching a "new" religion which went against the Roman beliefs.
The Hundreds of Churches all over Malta and Gozo bear witness to the religiosity of the Maltese, who are proud of their traditions of worship and their celebration of Annual "Festas". Many of these churches were built stone upon stone, and carved and bedecked by the villagers and townsmen, mostly in their spare time, but with assiduous persistence. Several of the Larger Parish Churches in Towns and Villages have multi colored electric bulbs fitted all over their facades so as to be lit up during festivities, which are quite spectacular. A common feature is the ringing of church bells which usually goes on throughout the day on the hour or half hour.
Tourists of course can usefully visit these Churches and Several Other Churches & Historical Places, containing several important works of art, all round the Islands.
Malta and Gozo, are also full of Shrines, Statues, or Niches, dedicated to Our Lady and to different Saints, often found at corners of buildings. When Valletta was being built, an Edict of the Grand Master required that every corner of a building must be decorated by some sculpture or other artistic representation. This may explain the extraordinary number of niches and statues all over Valletta, which was designed in the shape of a "grid" with straight streets, surrounded by huge and spectacular bastions, impregnable walls that are famous for their magnificent architecture and sheer height, often built straight into or clinging to the rock-ace...the old town of Qormi (fondly called in old documents and historical records as Citta' Pinto) is literally covered in niches and corner statues.
Religion remains a mainstay of the Maltese Islands, not only for the local people, but for the one-million plus tourists who visit Malta each year.
The Festa Season is a non-stop spectacle of band-marches through the streets, brass-band concerts on specially built huge stages called (plancieri) in the centre of village squares, tall poles lined along the streets carrying large colorful and very rich banners (arbli and bandalori), stands offering all kinds of sweets and local traditional foods, (such as the famous nougat or qubbajt) and of course the religious processions with the particular Patron Saint whose feast is being celebrated, carried on pedestal by volunteers, often as a votive sacrifice. Villages usually have two rival band clubs, and their enthusiasm knows no bounds. They prepare assiduously for the Feast of their particular Patron Saint and go to great lengths to participate in all activities and sometimes have "clashes" between themselves. They earnestly support their Band Club and some of them play all kinds of instruments, a fact which has turned out some fine musicians in consequence. The confetti from the balconies as the statue passes by are another example of the people's joy as their procession passes by. The big bangs and multi-colored petards and fireworks shooting up in the night sky add plenty of noise and a sense of celebration during a Festa.
The Cathedral within the Citadel in Mdina - Malta
Mdina is the Maltese corruption of the word "Medina" which was a name probably dating from the time of the Arabs, in fact the street names in this famous "silent city" which is a World Heritage site, are typically of Arab expression. This Church is a gem of the heritage left behind by the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who occupied Malta between 1530 and 1798.
The Co-Cathedral of St John in Valletta - Malta
The Cathedral is very beautiful and guided tours of this World Heritage Church and its museum are going on all year round. In this Cathedral, most famous is the large and lifelike painting by Caravaggio "The Beheading of Saint John", which is a masterpiece. The art and history within these walls is unique.
The Church of Saint Lawrence in Vittoriosa - Malta
Vittoriosa was the first city occupied by the Knights after their arrival at Malta, having been forced to leave their previous headquarters in Rhodes under safe conduct when overpowered in battle by the Mohammedan Overlords. The Knights were officially very religious and they usually bore a large white cross on red tunics. They adopted the white eight-pointed cross however as their chief emblem as far back as the time of the Crusades in the eleventh century AD. All the Churches they built, anywhere, carried several designs and patterns showing this 8-pointed cross, which came to be known as the Maltese Cross.
The Cathedral within the Citadel in Victoria - Gozo
A visit to Gozo should begin in Victoria, the island's capital. Victoria was named after the English monarch Queen Victoria, to commemorate her Silver Jubilee in 1897. Even today, many locals still call it by its original name, Rabat (which means city). The Citadel or the Cittadella, is an impregnable strategic point which owes its origins to the late mediaeval era, and which was re-fortified by the Knights of the Order of St. John to act as protection for the inhabitants. Within its walls lies the cathedral designed by Lorenzo Gafa, built between 1697 and 1711. Inside the Citadel there is also the Cathedral Museum, Archaeological Museum, Natural History Museum, the Folklore Museum and a Craft Centre housed in the Old Prison Buildings.
The Church of Ta' Pinu in Gharb - Gozo
The church dates back to 1920 and is built around a small chapel which dates back to the sixteenth century and was devoted to Our Lady of the Assumption. This is one of the most visited sites on the Island of Gozo, especially by the devoted Maltese & Gozitan people.
The Basilica of Saint George in Victoria - Gozo
The basilica dedicated to St George is the symbol of the parish community that, for many hundreds of years, embodied the Christian population of Rabat, officially known as Victoria. The foundation stone of the Basilica was laid in 1672 and it is referred to as the marble basilica, as it is entirely covered with marble.
Summer Festas
Expect to find a Festa at least once a week in different localities during the summer months, with the most spectacular display of fireworks at the Festas of St Julians & Lija.
Click Here For Details of Malta's Traditional Festas
