Saqqajja

The Casino Notabile (right) and the 18th-century Saqqajja wash house (left)

Saqqajja is a main square in the administrative areas of Mdina, Malta, outside the walled city.

Etymology

The name "Saqqajja" origins from the Arab period, from a spring of fresh water in the area.[1] The fountain of the spring that we see today was commissioned by Grandmaster Alof de Wignacourt, when the aqueduct system was being designed between Rabat and Valletta.

History

In 1449, the Augustinian Friars exchanged land in Mellieħa with land outside the capital city of Mdina, including the Saqqajja area. The friars built a convent and a cemetery which were later destroyed and the site was developed again for other purposes.

The niche of Saint Paul, situated in the centre of the square, was built during the magistry of Grandmaster António Manoel de Vilhena in 1727. When the population of Rabat went through a famine, plagues and other, the niche served as a religious devotion.

Layout

During the Crown Colony of Malta, Saqqajja was developed further with the building of residential Art Nouveau townhouses, Casino Notabile,[2] Point de Vue and Villa Fringila.

A bus terminus and a nearby shopping outlets converted the grounds into a social and commercial centre. It is a recreational place all year round, mainly during summer.

Social events

The place is well known for its feasts, processions and cultural activities. On the 29 June, in the feast of L-Imnarja (Saint Peter; St. Paul) each year L'Isle Adam Band Club A.D. 1860, perform a band concert for the celebration of this feast in front of the niche of Saint Paul.

Coordinates: 35°52′58″N 14°24′10″E / 35.88278°N 14.40278°E / 35.88278; 14.40278

References

  1. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Saqqaja wash house". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Unrestored Casino Notabile is 'secure' - timesofmalta.com". archive.org. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
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