Marsa: History between Two Bays

Marsa combines the landscape of its two bays with a rich local history. There are also sports facilities, from tennis and squash to cricket and golf. These themes offer different ways to get to know Marsa as a travel destination.

Two Bays and Their History

Xatt il-Qwabar and Il-Marsa il-Kbira form the area’s two bays. Għolja tal-Giżwiti separates them, while Wied is-Sewda winds through the Marsa plain. The local geography thus brings together two bays, a separating rise, and a named landscape feature.

The name Il-Marsa comes from Arabic and means a place where ships can anchor and moor. Archaeological finds show that people in the area used the shelter of the bays as far back as antiquity. The name and the finds offer two different connections to the sea: one linguistic, the other rooted in the bays’ early use.

History Across Different Eras

During the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, Marsa served as a camp for Ottoman Empire troops. In the 17th century, the historic museum Museo di San Giacomo was located in Marsa. Marsa became a parish on 19 April 1913. Together, these mark a 16th-century military episode, the museum’s history in the 17th century, and a precisely dated ecclesiastical status.

The church of Trinità Qaddisa is another part of the area’s history. It was built by Lorenzo Balbi and his wife. Alongside the date when Marsa became a parish, this points to two distinct aspects of church history: the construction of the church and Marsa’s recorded parish status.

Sports Facilities and Planning Your Visit

Marsa Sports Club offers specific points of comparison for tennis and squash. Its tennis facilities have 18 courts, including one clay court and two covered courts. There are five fully air-conditioned squash courts with glass back walls. There are more tennis courts than squash courts, and the court features listed also differ. If either sport is important to your stay, you can take the number of courts and their features into account.

The tennis academy can offer training to players of all levels. Check the current training and booking conditions in advance. A match is played on the Marsa Sports Club cricket ground every Saturday. Check the schedule if you’re planning your visit around a match.

Marsa Sports Club and Marsa Sports Complex are separate facilities. The club includes the tennis facilities described above, squash courts, the tennis academy, and the cricket ground. The Sports Complex, by contrast, has squash courts and a weightlifting centre operated by the national association. If you plan to visit the Complex, check access in advance; it may change during construction work.

Royal Malta Golf Club in Marsa welcomes visitors. If you’re planning a visit, check the current visitor conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Paola, Mdina, Żejtun, Munxar, Ta' Xbiex, Buġibba, Naxxar, Birkirkara.

For the main travel overview: Malta.