Zebbug, Malta
Encyclopedia
- See also: Żebbuġ, GozoZebbug, GozoIż-Żebbuġ is a small village on the island of Gozo in Malta located in the northwest of the island, close to the towns of Gharb and Marsalforn, on a hilltop overlooking the coast. As of November 2005, it had a population of 1770. The word Żebbuġ means "olives", a crop for which the village used to...
for the small village on the island of GozoGozoGozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
.
Ħaż-Żebbuġ or Città Rohan is one of the oldest towns in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Its population is 12,892 as of 2010 making it the 12th largest town in Malta.
History and origins
The Parish Church is dedicated to Philip of AgiraPhilip of Agira
Saint Philip of Agira was an early Christian confessor. There are two parallel stories of this saint which give to possible dates in which this saint lived. Traditionally, through the writings of St...
and the feast is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of June, although the actual feast day falls on the 12th day of May. The name of the town literally means "olives" in Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
; it derives from the large olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
groves that stood in and around the current location of the church and the centre of the town. The town was bestowed with the title of Città Rohan by Grandmaster
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc
Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc
Fra' Sir Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc was a member of the wealthy and influential Rohan family of France, and 70th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1775 to 1797....
in 1777. As was the custom in such events, the people of Ħaż-Żebbuġ built an archway at the entrance to their hometown by way of marking the incipiency of its status as a city. The gateway, known by the locals as "Il-Bieb il-Ġdid" or New Gateway still stands today.
In 1380 a church dedicated to St. Philip of Agira was built in Casal Zebugi, a tract of land situated in the middle of the small communities which had developed during the previous Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
occupation of Malta, namely Ħal-Dwin, Ħal-Muxi and Ħal-Mula and which were eventually joined together forming the village known till today as Ħaż-Żebbuġ. Filippo de Catania "il-Kataniż" (Philip of Catania) a wealthy entrepreneur owning land in Ħaż-Żebbuġ funded part of the construction of St. Philip Church built on his own land. Long years after it became the parish church another one, designed by Tumas Dingli
Tumas Dingli
Tumas Dingli was an architect. His Father was called 'Gakbu', the Maltese name for Jacob while his mother was called 'Katarina', which is similar to the name Katrina in English....
, was erected in its stead in the late seventeenth century. The Church boasts a magnificent titular painting by Luca Garnier and two spectacular murals by the great Maltese 18th Century painter of the Favray school, Francesco Zahra, which critics consider to be his best works. Among other treasures the Church possesses an artefact attributed to Guido Reni
Guido Reni
Guido Reni was an Italian painter of high-Baroque style.-Biography:Born in Bologna into a family of musicians, Guido Reni was the son of Daniele Reni and Ginevra de’ Pozzi. As a child of nine, he was apprenticed under the Bolognese studio of Denis Calvaert. Soon after, he was joined in that...
and several others by Antonio Sciortino
Antonio Sciortino
Antonio Sciortino was a Maltese sculptor whose work reflects several artistic movements, including Realism and Futurism, as well as the influence of Auguste Rodin. He studied and worked in Rome. He developed an original style which drew the admiration of many and brought him commissions in...
. The statue of St. Philip, by sculptor Luigi Fontana
Luigi Fontana
Luigi Fontana was an Italian sculptor, painter and architect. He is the father of Lucio Fontana.He was born at Monte San Pietrangeli, in the Marche, and was a pupil of Gaetano Palmaroli...
, was created in 1864 and is regarded by connoisseurs as the most beautiful of its genre in the country.
When Malta was an independent principality under the sovereign Order of St. John
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
, Ħaż-Żebbuġ was among the chief towns after Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
and Mdina
Mdina
Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
, first because of the presence of leading corsairs among its inhabitants, subsequently due to its major role in the cotton industry. The magnificence of St Philip's Church is the foremost evidence of the pre-eminent place Ħaż-Żebbuġ enjoys in Maltese history.
The locals or Żebbuġin as they are known in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
are renowned for their business acumen amongst others, and there is a local saying to this end. Due to the Żebbuġin's Francophile past, the town was regarded as a friendly community when the Revolutionary French took Malta. During their rule in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
(1798-1800), the local churches were plundered for their riches in order to fund Napoleon's campaign. The Ħaż-Żebbuġ locals opened the main door to the church when they heard the French were coming and hastily hid the gold and silver religious iconography. When the French saw the open doors of the church they kept on going and the Żebbuġin retained their religious riches.
Archaeology
Malta is very rich in archaeological remains and Ħaż-Żebbuġ is no exception. It gave its name to an era of prehistoric time when pottery of a kind not known as yet was found in tombs in the area known as Ta' Trapna. Later archaeological finds constructed at around the same time where subsequently known as "Żebbuġ phase" remains. A scattering of Punic and Phoenician tombs were also found together with a small number of cart ruts and other remains.Today
Ħaż-Żebbuġ is renowned for its spectacular festas dedicated to the Patron Saint St. Philip of AgiraPhilip of Agira
Saint Philip of Agira was an early Christian confessor. There are two parallel stories of this saint which give to possible dates in which this saint lived. Traditionally, through the writings of St...
and to St. Joseph, a secondary feast. There are three band clubs in Ħaż-Żebbuġ, all of which have respective fireworks factories: De Rohan Band Club (established in 1860 as the first organised band in Malta ), St. Philip's Band Club
St. Philip's Band Club
St. Philip's Band Club is the headquarters of one of the three brass bands in Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Malta. This club was formed from the infamous Banda Ta' Indri or the first organised band in the country....
and the 12 May Band and Social Club (established in 1961).
Ħaż-Żebbuġ is the birthplace of various prominent Maltese personalities who have adorned the national cultural history down the ages, such as Mikiel Anton Vassalli
Mikiel Anton Vassalli
Mikiel Anton Vassalli was a Maltese writer, a philosopher, and a linguist who published important Maltese language books, including a Maltese-Italian dictionary, a Maltese grammar book, the Maltese Gospels and, towards the end of his life, a book on Maltese proverbs.-Life:Mikiel Anton Vassalli was...
(father of the written Maltese language), Dun Mikiel Xerri
Dun Mikiel Xerri
Dun Mikiel Xerri was a Maltese patriot. Xerri studied at different universities in Europe. He lived under both the Knights of St. John during their time in Malta and the French when they took over the Maltese Islands...
(patriot), Nicolo Isouard (composer), Dun Karm Psaila
Dun Karm Psaila
Dun Karm ,89, was a Maltese writer and poet, sometimes called 'the bard of Malta' He was educated at the Seminary between the years 1885 and 1894 and then proceeded to study philosophy in 1888 and theology in 1890 the University of Malta.He was ordained priest in 1894...
(Malta's national poet), Antonio Sciortino
Antonio Sciortino
Antonio Sciortino was a Maltese sculptor whose work reflects several artistic movements, including Realism and Futurism, as well as the influence of Auguste Rodin. He studied and worked in Rome. He developed an original style which drew the admiration of many and brought him commissions in...
(sculptor), Lazzaro Pisani (painter), Frans Sammut
Frans Sammut
Frans Sammut was a Maltese novelist and non-fiction writer.-Life:Sammut was born in Zebbug, Malta. He studied at the Zebbug Primary School, St Aloysius' College, St Michael's Teacher Training College, the University of Malta Rome University and Perugia University Frans Sammut (November 19, 1945 –...
(leading contemporary author), and Alfred Chircop (foremost contemporary painter).
Ħaż-Żebbuġ is the locality where the French Ambassador for Malta has chosen to live during his time in office. The Grand Chancery of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is also situated in the city.
The city has been twinned with the following: Agira
Agira
Agira is a town and comune in the province of Enna, Sicily . It is located in the mid-valley of the River Salso, 35 km from Enna...
The city also has a cooperation agreement with: Enna
Enna
Enna is a city and comune located roughly at the center of Sicily, southern Italy, in the province of Enna, towering above the surrounding countryside...
The Zebbug Local Council, which represents the Zebbug residents, joined the European Forum for Urban Security
European Forum for Urban Security
The European Forum for Urban Security is a non-governmental organization , gathering 300 local authorities. It aims at reinforcing crime prevention policies and promoting the role of local authorities in the development of national and European policies.The organisation was created in 1987 in...
and, in 2011, was elected to the EFUS Executive Committee.
Town Clubs
- St Philip's Band Club (Kazin tal-Banda San Filep)
- 12 May Band & Social Club (Kazin Banda 12 May)
- St. Joseph Club and De Rohan Band (Każin San Ġużepp u Banda De Rohan)
- Żebbuġ RangersZebbug RangersZebbug Rangers Football Club is a football club from the town of Zebbug in Malta, the club currently competes in the Maltese Second Division.In 1943,three men by the names of Mr Philip Borg who was from Floriana but took refuge in Zebbug because of the war,Mr.John Caruana who was from Cospicua and...
Ħaż-Żebbuġ main roads
- Misraħ San Filippu (St. Philip Square)
- Triq Ħ'Attard (Attard Road)
- Triq Ħal Mula (Hal Mula Road)
- Triq il-Buskett (Buskett Road)
- Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Triq il-Mitħna (Windmill Street)
- Triq is-Siġġiewi (Siggiewi Road)
- Triq l-Imdina (Mdina Road)
- Triq Mikiel Anġ Sapiano (Michael Angelo Sapiano Street)
- Triq Sant' Antnin (St. Anthony Street)
- Triq Sciortino (Sciortino Street)
- Triq Tal-Grazzja (Tal-Grazzia Road)
- Vjal il-Ħelsien (Freedom Avenue)
Two websites can be found in the web about this village and these are www.haz-zebbug.com and www.cittarohan.org which are worth visiting.