Marsaskala Wied il-Għajn Marsascala, M'Skala | |
|---|---|
 Marsaskala Bay | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Motto: Għajn ta' kenn u mistrieħ | |
 | |
| Coordinates:35°51′45″N14°34′3″E / 35.86250°N 14.56750°E /35.86250; 14.56750 | |
| Country |  Malta |
| Region | Southern Region |
| District | South Eastern District |
| Borders | Marsaxlokk,Żabbar,Żejtun |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mario Calleja (PL) |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.4 km2 (2.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 16,804 |
| • Density | 3,100/km2 (8,100/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Skali (m) Skalija (f) Skalin (pl) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | MSK |
| Dialing code | 356 |
| ISO 3166 code | MT-27 |
| Patron saint | St. Anne |
| Day of festa | Last Sunday of July |
| Website | Official website |
Marsaskala, also known asWied il-Għajn orMarsascala is a seaside town in theSouthern Region ofMalta. Originally a fishing village, it has grown into a tourist destination and a permanent hometown for an ever-growing population.[1]
The parish church, built in 1953, is dedicated toSaint Anne and Marsaskala's feast is celebrated at the end of July.
The name of the town is also written asMarsascala in old ortography, and often abbreviated asM'Skala.It is a composite name derived from Arabic.Marsa is the common word for harbour (also found inMarsa,Marsaxlokk,Marsamxett).Skala is of harder interpretation, most likely derived fromSqalli (Sicilian), with reference to a community of fishermen from the island, perhaps due to frequent Sicilian maritime activity.[2]
Marsaskala is also known asWied il-Għajn by the Maltese, as the bay and the old small village are flanked by two valleys, through which a spring of fresh water used to flow down into the innermost bay.Wied means valley andGħajn (pronouncedayn) refers to the spring of fresh water. Literally,Wied il-Għajn meansValley of the Spring.[3]
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Humans have inhabited the area since pre-history, as evidenced by a number of archaeological finds. Some of the ancient remains are the cart-ruts, which are parallel channels formed in the rock.[4]
EarlyChristiancatacombs, as well asRoman remains, were discovered in Marsaskala, the latter suggesting that Marsaskala was also a Roman port.[4] Remains ofRoman baths were found in a field at il-Gżira, a rock peninsula behind the Jerma Palace Hotel. Four identical Roman ship anchors were found in the bay during the 1960s, now at theMalta Maritime Museum. In 2003, American amateur pseudo-archaeologistBob Cornuke claimed thatPaul the Apostle had been shipwrecked inSt Thomas' Bay, in Marsaskala. This claim was never confirmed and discredited by field experts.[5]
In 1614, 60Ottoman ships carrying 6,000 soldiers landed at Marsaskala and launchedan attack on the south of Malta. Although the battle was a decisive Maltese victory, it brought back fear and terrifying memories of theGreat Siege of Malta.
Sea towers were built in the area to reduce vulnerability to seaborne attacks. They includeSaint Thomas Tower (1565) andŻonqor Tower (1659, demolished 1915), as well as theBriconet Redoubt (1715). Other towers were built privately by wealthy residents as fortified houses, includingMamo Tower,Tal-Buttar Tower andTal-Gardiel Tower. In 1882 the British built theŻonqor Battery.
While still a quaint fishermen's village in early 1900, Marsaskala has grown exponentially in the course of the 20th and 21st century into the main urban centre in the south-east region of Malta, and the 8th biggest urban area in Malta. Urbanisation has led to the spread of residential developments, which have taken up the whole peninsula of San Tumas, the Bellavista hillside, and the Zonqor coastline.
TheJerma Palace Hotel was built in 1982 at the tip ofRas il-Gżira, in front ofSaint Thomas Tower, owned by Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company and managed byCorinthia until its closure in March 2007. The redevelopment of its ruins remains an open issue[6][7] The latest project byJoseph Portelli envisages two eight-storey blocks with 155 residential units, 258 serviced apartments, a 134-room hotel and a shopping centre.[8] Despite no permit granted, such apartments are already presented for sale.[9]
The Marsaskala Local Council was set up in 1994. The main issue in the first local election was the proposal for a new waste recycling plant and a number ofbiogas tanks in Sant'Antnin Valley. This development was disputed by a committee composed of sevenLabour local councils (including Marsaskala) and eight local non-government organisations.[10]
In March 2017 a fire ripped through the Sant'Antnin waste treatment plant, destroying much of it.[11] Most of the plant was shut down in December 2022. In 2024, plans were launched to turn it into a recreational green park covering 23,800 square meters.[12] The new park would complement the nearbySant'Antnin Family Park.
In August 2021,Transport Malta in a pre-qualification document suggested that most of Marsaskala Bay would be taken up by pontoons and yacht facilities for a new marina. Four bidders submitted their interest in October.[13] Residents and the local council opposed it, including with public protests.[14] While prime ministerRobert Abela announced the project would be shelved,[15] residents called for legal certainty, and asked to remove any reference to a yacht marina from the 2006 local plan for southern Malta.[16] In May 2024 Malta's Planning Authority announced that such policy document would be withdrawn.[17] According to researchers, "the Marsaskala marina plan is an example of how civil society mobilised and actively worked to voice its opposition".[18]
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The town surrounds the Marsaskala Bay or creek, a long narrow inlet which is sheltered to the north byRas iż-Żonqor, the south-east corner of Malta, and to the south by the headland ofRas il-Gżira.
The town itself is located along both sides of the bay, and across most ofIl-Ħamrija, a creek leading toIl-Ponta tal-Gżira. The shore north ofRas iż-Żonqor is of low cliffs, with shelving rock ledges south of the point.
Marsaskala Bay is largely edged by promenade, with low shelving rock ledges cut withsalt pans on the seaward face of Ras iċ-Ċerna, which continue on round the eastern point, past l-Abjad iż-Żgħir, and intoSt Thomas' Bay to the south.
Given the topography, the urban area is separated in several zones:
The urban area is surrounded by countryside. The northern side is today part ofIl-Park Nazzjonali tal-Inwadar. In the centre,Il-Maghluq is another natural reserve (Natura2000 site).[19] In the south, San Tumas Bay is surrounded by fields until Munxar Point.
Marsaskala has a population of 16,804 people as of the 2021 census, swelling to over 20,000 in summer.[20]
While only recorded separate in census data since 1957, the town population has grown exponentially since, almost doubling every decade. Marsaskala is today the biggest urban centre in the south-east region of Malta, and the 8th biggest urban area in Malta.
Itsforeign population similarly grew from 4.76% in 2001 (445 over 9,346) to 6.08% in 2011 (672 over 11,059) to 27.65% (4,647 over 16,804).[20]
In terms ofreligious affiliation, at the 2021 census (table 5.3), the population aged 15 and over of Marsaskala (total 14,253) reported following either Roman Catholicism (11,365), Islam (557), Orthodoxy (682), Hinduism (88), Church of England (274), Protestantism (153), Buddhism (107), Judaism (43), Other religious groups (22) or having no religious affiliation (962).[20]
In terms of racial origin (table 4.3), Marsaskala's population identifies as Caucasian (15,075), Asian (641), Arab (284), African (321), Hispanic or Latino (244), or having more than one racial origin (239).[20]
The average age is of 38.9, lower than the national average of 41.7 and of the regional one of 40.5. Non-Maltese in Marsaskala (35.5) have a lower average age than Maltese (40.2).[20]
The traditional activities of Marsaskala are agriculture and fishing. Since independence, tourism has grown in relevance, in particular after the opening ofJerma Palace Hotel in the 1980s.
In the 2000s, Marsaskala has become a residential area for the growing number of Maltese residents, who live in the town and commute for work to other areas of the island, including the nearbyairport andfreeport.
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The first council in Marsaskala was formed in April 1994. The first mayor was also Malta's first female mayor, Marvic Attard Gialanze. She had formed the Marsascala Residents' Association in 1991, and run on the same civic platform.She was succeeded by Charlie Zammit (1997-2000) and Carmelo Mifsud (2000-2006).
Mario Calleja (PL), a former police investigator and hotel manager, has been mayor of Marsaskala since 2006, re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2019 and 2024.[21]
At the2019 local elections, the Labour Party obtained 69.7% (7 seats) and the Nationalist Party 26.3% (2 seats).
In 2020, mayor Calleja set up a sub-committee for the regeneration of Marsascala, chaired by Ray Abela, a PL candidate, and including the mayor himself together with persons with local business interests such as Ray's cousin Eric Abela (owner of Ta' Grabiel house), Joseph Farrell (owner of Tiffany Kiosk), and Angele Abela (head of a Minister’s secretariat). The sub-committee liaised directly with government agencies includingMalta Tourism Authority andInfrastructure Malta, without reporting to the local council or to the residents. Its proposals included pedestrianising the area in front of Ta' Grabiel (soon to become a boutique hotel), and the takeover of the hard shoulder in front of the Parish church (used by boat owners) for bars & restaurants. The sub-committee was dissolved following residents' pressure on the Local Council.[22]
In 2021, theMalta Tourism Authority launched a "regeneration design contest"[23] to increase the tourism attractivity of Marsaskala. The initiative was opposed by both Local Council and residents, who took to the streets to protest over-development without local consultation, considering it a continuation of the previous' years "sub-committee" work.[22]
At the2024 local elections, the Labour Party obtained 4429 votes (62.57%) and 7 seats, the Nationalist Party 2304 votes (32.55%) and 2 seats, and AD+PD 345 votes (4.87%) and no seats.[24]
Active associations in town include Save Marsaskala[25] and Marsaskala Residents Network.[26]
The localfesta of Sant'Anna is celebrated at the end of July.
Late August sees the events of the Summer Carnaval.
Marsaskala's Parish Church, dedicated to St Anne, was built in 1953 close toCasa Monita and to theBriconet Redoubt. It includes a Venetian-style belltower.The smaller, old parish church of St Anne is nearby (triq il-Knisja), surrounded by the houses of the old village.Not far from the parish church, at the start of triq Iz-Zonqor, a private house hosts the small Chapel of Our Lady of the Girdle.On the hill of Bellavista, Villa Apap-Bologna also includes the baroque Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary , visible from the shoreline.
Marsaskala's countryside is spotted with chapels, including the ones of St Nicholas (triq il-Blajjiet), of St Gaetan (nearTorri Mamo), of St Anthony Of Padua (Triq il-Wied) and of the Madonna Of Light (Triq il-Bidni).
In the 16th and 17th century, the Order started to build a series of defensive architectures coast to reduce Malta's vulnerability to seaborne attacks.Saint Thomas Tower was built in late 1565 as part of theWignacourt towers and kept being used for military purposes into the British period. It has been recently restored.[44]
Żonqor Tower, one of the 13De Redin towers, was builtin in 1659 and demolished in 1915 by British military engineers. No traces of it can be seen anymore and a pillbox now stands in its place. In 1882, the British built in the area theŻonqor Battery, which saw little use as it was unsuitable for proper defence.[45]
In 1715, theBriconet Redoubt was built by the Order. It has lon been used as a police station. A second redoubt was built close to Marsaskala but was destroyed in 1915.[46]
Other towers were built privately by wealthy residents as fortified houses, includingMamo Tower,Tal-Buttar Tower andTal-Gardiel Tower.[47]
The main sports in Marsaskala are football and waterpolo.Marsaskala F.C. are a football club founded in 2010.
Marsaskala Sports Club, founded in 1927, and re-founded in 1974 is one of the oldestwaterpolo clubs in Malta. Having languished in the second division for many years, Marsaskala Sports Club established themselves as one of Malta's top teams in the mid-nineties. In 1997 they were crowned Malta champions, the only season the trophy was won by a club from southern Malta. They have represented Malta in theLigue Européenne de Natation (LEN) Trophy inChios,Greece in 1997 and the European Champions Cup in 1998 inÚstí nad Labem,Czech Republic, becoming the first Maltese team to win two European Champions Cup matches, against Swiss championsHorgen and the hosts themselves.
Several Marsaskala Sports Club products have also played with distinction in the national team, amongst of which wereCharles Flask, Alfred Xuerebil-Yogi, Charles Żammit, Joseph Caruana Dingli, Anton Privitera, Paul Privitera and John Licari. Both Joseph Caruana Dingli and Paul Privitera have also captained the Malta national team on many occasions.
Marsaskala was also the venue of the 2005 EuropeanEight-ball Pool Championships and the European Darts Championships, both held at the Jerma Palace Hotel.
Marsaskala is popular with divers and swimmers.[48]
At Żonqor point, the Tal-Qroqq sports complex includes Malta's national swimming pool (pixxina nazzjonali), with an Olympic 50-meter pool and a 25-meter pool, also heated in winter. The complex hosts Malta'swaterpolo league and various international waterpolo and swimming tournaments. It also includes a sports hall, and can host up to 1,800 spectators.[49]
A strategy for the Tal-Qroqq national pool complex was discussed in Parliament in 2010.[50]
In 2016, the Government of Malta took up ownership of the site, estimated worth some €1.3 million in 2005, with the aim to unilaterally award it toJordanian construction firmSadeen to build a campus for a privateAmerican University of Malta (AUM).[51] In exchange, under a secret deal with the Marsascala Sports Club, the government would have built a third waterpolo pitch across the bay at Is-Siberja.[52]
The project faced strong opposition and was later scaled back, with Sadeen/AUM being granted land inBormla and atSmart City inXgħajra instead. In February 2022, the title of the land was returned to the Government of Malta, who awarded it back to the Marsascala Aquatic Sports Club.[53]
The bus terminal hosts threeTallinja lines connecting withValletta viaZabbar, and one connecting toL-Isla. Marsaskala is also served by one line connecting to theairport.
Marsaskala's main primary school, St Anne Primary (Skola Primarja Sant'Anna), stands on the hill behind the parish church. It hosts 500 pupils.Given the high growth rates, a new primary school was opened in 2019, St Joachim Primary (Skola Primarja San Gwakkin), to cater to 300 pupils from the San Tumas area.[55]Both schools are affiliated to STMC St Thomas More College (Kullegg San Tumas More),Zejtun.
The Marsaskala Branch Library is hosted within the premises of St Anne Primary.
Prime MinisterRobert Abela, former presidentGeorge Abela, former prime ministerLawrence Gonzi and two Labour Members of Parliament,Owen Bonnici andHelena Dalli live in the Marsaskala area, as does the leader of the defunct partyAzzjoni Nazzjonali,Josie Muscat.
Marsaskala is a member of theDouzelage, a uniquetown twinning association of towns across theEuropean Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and Marsaskala joined in 2009. There are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.[56]
Agros, Cyprus
Altea, Spain
Asikkala, Finland
Bad Kötzting, Germany
Bellagio, Italy
Bundoran, Ireland
Chojna, Poland
Dujiangyan, China
Granville, France
Holstebro, Denmark
Houffalize, Belgium
Judenburg, Austria
Kőszeg, Hungary
Meerssen, Netherlands
Niederanven, Luxembourg
Oxelösund, Sweden
Preveza, Greece
Rokiškis, Lithuania
Rovinj, Croatia
Sesimbra, Portugal
Sherborne, United Kingdom
Sigulda, Latvia
Siret, Romania
Škofja Loka, Slovenia
Sušice, Czech Republic
Tryavna, Bulgaria
Türi, Estonia
Zvolen, Slovakia
European Union: Members of the town twinning "Douzelage" | ||
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| Former members | ||
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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