Xemxija

Xemxija Ix-Xemxija
Town
View of Xemxija
Xemxija
Coordinates: 35°57′2″N 14°23′9″E / 35.95056°N 14.38583°ECoordinates: 35°57′2″N 14°23′9″E / 35.95056°N 14.38583°E
Country	Malta
Region	Northern Region
District	Northern District
Local council	St. Paul's Bay
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	SPB
Dialing code	356

Xemxija (Maltese: Ix-Xemxija, pronounced shem-shee-ya) is a suburb on the western part of St. Paul's Bay in the Northern Region, Malta. It is a quiet resort, surrounded by Maltese countryside and some of the most fertile valleys in Malta. There is also a picturesque small fishing harbour. The resort is the gateway to the sandy beaches of Golden Bay to the west, and to Mellieħa Bay to the north. There are a few hotels and restaurants in Xemxija, but nightlife, shops and bars can be found in nearby St. Paul's Bay, Buġibba and Qawra.

History

The area around Xemxija has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It contains a number of archaeological sites, which now form a heritage trail. These include a number of rock-hewn tombs,^[1] remains of two megalithic temples,^[2][3] a Bronze Age grain silo,^[4] trogloditic dwellings, cart ruts, a Roman road, and Roman apiaries.^[5]

In around 1715, the Order of St. John built Arrias Battery as part of a series of fortifications defending Malta's coastline. It was also called Xemxija Battery since it was on the sunny side of the bay (xemxija means "sunny" in Maltese), and the area around it became known as Xemxija. Today, the battery is a restaurant.^[6]

An underground emergency flour mill was built in Xemxija during the Cold War. It has been restored to working condition by the Fondazzjoni Wirt Industrijali Malti, and is now open to the public.^[7]

Since the 1980s, many apartment blocks have been built in Xemxija, and the area is now a small resort.

References

1. "Xemxija prehistoric tombs" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
2. "Xemxija Temple (1) - Ancient Temple in Malta in Mainland". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
3. "Xemxija Temple (2) - Ancient Temple in Malta in Mainland". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
4. "Xemxija Silo - Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry in Malta in Mainland". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
5. "Xemxija Heritage Trail". howtomalta.com. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
6. "Arrias Battery" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
7. "Underground Flour Mills". maltaheritage.blogspot.com. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2015.