After its very successful series of summer events which included a harbour fortifications harbour cruise with a live commentary by Dr. Stephen Spiteri, and a dinner held in Gozo in September, FAA is now starting its winter season with a heritage walk of Tarxien on Saturday, the 22nd of October.

The Tarxien temples indicate that this locality has been inhabited for more than five thousand years. During the Great Siege of 1565 the men of Tarxien were enlisted in the Militia and sent to join the Mdina garrison while during the French Blockade (1798-1800) two Tarxien batteries stood guard over the French blockaded within the Cottonera Lines. World War II bombings destroyed many houses in Tarxien, while large houses like Palazzo Abela were used to billet soldiers and as the headquarters of the regiments in the surrounding area.

The FAA heritage tour will start at the Tarxien Temples and proceed to ara i-Bjut (Semitic for ‘Behind the House’) which is one of the oldest parts of Tarxien, where the architecture of the Ta’ Manduca house recalls some of the buildings found in Birgu. The tour will include a visit to Palazzo Abela, built as a country villa by Bishop Leonardo Abela in 1562 and the old chapels of Santa Marija tar-Rokna and of Saint Bartholomew designed by Giuseppe Bonnici (1709-79). In Triq Sqajjaq, the oldest street in Tarxien, the tour will pass id-Dar tal-Logutenent, the residence of Guzeppi Montebello, one of the leaders of the uprising of the Maltese against the French in 1798 and proceed to Villa Lanzon which served as an Air Intelligence Unit in WWII.

At the end of the walk, visitors will be treated to tea, coffee and home-baked cakes at Villa Tarxien, as guests of Mrs Janatha Stubbs. Built on the highest spot of Tarxien, Villa Tarxien’s grounds still retain the remains of a tower built before 1691 from where the local militia (id-dejma) used to mount watches against any landing by the Barbary corsairs or Ottoman forces, especially from Marsaxlokk.

Few are aware of the fact that Tarxien has played an important role in Malta’s history or of the rich heritage to be found in its old streets and buildings, for which reason those who love Maltese heritage are urged not to miss this rare opportunity to learn about this forgotten corner of Malta’s past.

Bookings for those who wish to join in on the walk can be made by emailing : bookings@faa.org.mt or by phoning Carmen on 99806060

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