Mellieħa

Mellieħa (Maltese: il-Mellieħa [ɪl mɛˈlːɪːħɐ]) is a large village or small town in the Northern Region of Malta. It has a population of 10,087 as of March 2014.[1] Mellieħa is also a tourist resort, popular for its sandy beaches and natural environment.

Mellieħa

Il-Mellieħa
Local council
Mellieħa as viewed from the sea
Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 35°57′23″N 14°21′59″E
Country Malta
RegionNorthern Region
DistrictNorthern District
BordersMġarr, St. Paul's Bay
Government
 • MayorDario Vella (PL)
Area
 • Total22.6 km2 (8.7 sq mi)
Elevation
150 m (490 ft)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
 • Total11,389
 • Density500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Mellieħi (m), Melliħija (f), Melliħin (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
MLH
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-30
Patron saintMary's Birth (Bambina)
Day of festa8 September
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

The name Mellieħa is derived from the Semitic root m-l-ħ, which means salt. This is probably derived from the ancient Punic-Roman salt pans which existed at Mellieħa Bay. The site of the salt pans is now occupied by the Għadira Nature Reserve.[2][3][4]

History

Prehistory to Middle Ages

Mellieħa was first inhabited in around 3000 BC, during the Neolithic period. Several megalithic remains have been found, including the temple of Għajn Żejtuna, as well as several caves and tombs, in which tools and pottery fragments were found.[5]

During the Roman period, troglodytes began to live in the caves of Mellieħa's valleys. The cave settlements continued to exist during Byzantine rule, but were abandoned in the early medieval period.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul was shipwrecked in Malta in around 60 AD, possibly in the nearby St. Paul's Bay. According to local tradition, St. Luke, who was accompanying St. Paul, came across one of Mellieħa's caves and painted the figure of Our Lady on the rock face. In 409 AD, the cave was consecrated as a church, and it is now known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa.

Mellieħa was one of the first ten parishes of Malta. It still existed in 1436, but it was abandoned soon afterwards in the late 15th or early 16th century, since the north of Malta was no longer safe due to raids by Muslim corsairs.[6]

Under the Order of Saint John
Saint Agatha's Tower

Malta was one of the first regions that Muslims entered in the Mediterranean, and this is evident in the Islamic heritage of buildings and ancient relics of mosques and homes. In addition to that the Arabic language that has remained rooted in the language of the current people of the island, this was starting from year 826 A.D. and last for 220 years.

During the early years of Hospitaller rule in Malta, Mellieħa remained abandoned. In the late 16th century, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa was rebuilt.

The northern coast of Malta began to be fortified in the early 17th century. The first fortification to be built in Mellieħa was Saint Agatha's Tower, which was completed in 1649. This large tower was built on Marfa Ridge, overlooking Mellieħa Bay, with clear views over to Comino and Gozo. The smaller Għajn Ħadid Tower and Armier Tower were also built in the limits of Mellieħa in 1658.[7]

A series of coastal batteries, redoubts and entrenchments were also built in Mellieħa in the 18th century. Several of these still survive, such as Mistra Battery, Vendôme Battery, Wied Musa Battery and Westreme Battery. The Devil's Farmhouse found at Ta' Randa area is an example of Maltese farmhouses built in the 18th century.

British period to present day
The Devil's Farmhouse (Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan)

Mellieħa as it is today developed while Malta was under British rule. The village became a parish once again in 1844, and began to develop after the British encouraged people to settle in the area by giving leases to the population. The parish church was built in various stages between 1883 and 1930 and it is said that the locals helped building the church. A postal agency opened in Mellieħa in 1891.[8]

Just before World War II, Fort Campbell was built in Selmun, while Mellieħa Fort was built on top of Mellieħa Hill as a lookout post. The British also built a number of pillboxes around the coastline of Mellieħa, for defensive purposes in case of an Italian or German invasion.

Mellieħa has seen a lot of development since the end of the war. The Mellieħa Local Council was established by the Local Councils Act of 1993.[2]

Geography
Mellieħa Bay

The town of Mellieħa stands on a group of hills on the northwest coast of the main island of Malta. Mellieħa proper consists of the areas of Mellieħa Heights, Santa Maria Estate, il-Qortin, Ta' Pennellu, Ta' Masrija and Tal-Ibraġ. The nearby villages of Manikata and Selmun also fall under Mellieħa's jurisdiction.

Selmun Palace and farms complex

The town overlooks Mellieħa Bay, which includes Għadira Bay, the largest sandy beach in Malta. To the east of the town and bay, there is the Selmun peninsula, and St Paul's Islands lie about 80 metres off the coast. Mistra Bay lies close to Selmun, and this marks the boundary between Mellieħa and St. Paul's Bay.[9]

The large Marfa Peninsula lies to the north of Mellieħa. It includes several small bays, such as Armier Bay and Paradise Bay, as well as the harbour of Ċirkewwa, from which the Gozo ferry departs. The Marfa Ridge spans across a large part of the peninsula.

To the south of Marfa Ridge, there are Anchor Bay and Popeye Village, Majjistral Nature and History Park, the hamlet of Manikata and Golden Bay. The boundary with Mġarr lies at Għajn Tuffieħa.

Tourism
Ċirkewwa is a popular dive site

Mellieħa is a popular tourist destination during the summer months. It is well known for its beaches, with the most well known being Għadira Bay and Golden Bay. Ċirkewwa is also popular as a dive site, and it includes the wrecks of MV Rozi and the P29 patrol boat.

In 2009, Mellieħa was awarded the title of European Destination of Excellence due to its sustainable initiatives.[10]

Mellieħa main roads
  • Dawret il-Mellieħa (Mellieħa By-Pass)
  • Triq Ġorġ Borg Olivier (Ġorġ Borg Olivier Street)
  • Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
  • Triq il-Marfa (Marfa Road)
  • Triq il-Prajjiet (Anchor Bay Road)
  • Triq Louis Wettinger (Louis Wettinger Street)
  • Triq San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay Road)

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta

Mellieħa is twinned with:[11]

Photos of views around Mellieha
Mellieħa and its coastline from Golden Bay to Mistra Bay
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References
  1. "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
  2. Muscat, David. "About the village of Mellieha". Mellieha.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  3. "Excursions in the Mediterranean". p. 202.
  4. Saviour Formosa; Sandra Scicluna; Jacqueline Azzopardi, eds. (January 2013). Realities of Crime, Society and Landuse in the Mediterranean: JANUS I (PDF). Msida: Department of Criminology, University of Malta. p. 98. doi:10.13140/2.1.1230.4322. ISBN 978-99957-834-0-2. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017.
  5. Debono, Charles. "Ghajn Zejtuna Prehistoric Temple". Mellieha.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  6. Scerri, John. "Mellieha". malta-canada.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  7. Mifsud, Simon (24 December 2012). "Għajn Ħadid Tower and Aħrax Tower". MilitaryArchitecture.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  8. Proud, Edward B. (1999). The Postal History of Malta. Heathfield: Proud-Bailey Co. Ltd. pp. 273–274. ISBN 1872465315.
  9. "Selmun Peninsula". iluvmalta.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  10. "Mellieħa and the Hamlet of Manikata (Malta)". European Destinations of Excellence. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  11. "Town Twinnings". mellieha.gov.mt. Mellieħa. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
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