Naxxar: Churches, Towers and Prehistory

Naxxar offers a clear cultural focus when choosing a destination: the parish church, several towers, prehistoric traces and what Palazzo Parisio has to offer provide different ways to explore the town’s history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Naxxar, placing these attractions in their historical and thematic context can help you decide whether to shape your stay around religious heritage, military history, prehistory or a specific reason for visiting.

Parish church: parish status and present-day building

Naxxar’s parish church was elevated to parish status in 1436; the present-day building was constructed between 1616 and 1630. These dates mark different milestones: 1436 refers to its elevation to parish status, while the later period refers to the construction of the present-day church. This distinction helps separate the church’s status from its building history, rather than reading both dates as a single event.

A description from 2013 places a small museum at the back of the parish church, on the upper floor of the same building. It describes the collection as including the Good Friday procession statues. This adds a connection to the Good Friday procession to the building’s history. For travelers interested in religious heritage, this is a distinct aspect alongside the origins of the church building.

Towers and their different histories

Għallis Tower was the second of thirteen towers. It was built in 1658 at a cost of 426 scudi and guarded the entrance to Salina. The tower’s order in the sequence, construction date, cost and function provide different historical clues: they describe its place in the series, when it was built and its defensive role.

The square Torri Gauci was built by Francesco Gauci; it may have been built before the Knights of St John arrived in Malta. Unlike Għallis Tower, which is dated to 1658, its timing is therefore uncertain. Both structures offer a way to explore military history, but the accounts of their construction differ in precision: a year is given for Għallis Tower, while Torri Gauci is tentatively placed before a historical reference point.

Traces of prehistory

The ruins of Tal-Qadi are the remains of a Neolithic temple. The caves of tal-Qattara are cited as evidence of Naxxar’s prehistoric past. The two references emphasize different things: Tal-Qadi is specifically described as temple ruins, while the caves are associated with prehistory. Together, they complement the later churches and towers with a glimpse into a much earlier period. If you’re interested in these time periods, you can distinguish these sites from structures with recorded dates.

Reasons to visit and dates

Palazzo Parisio offers intimate tours of the house and gardens. Afternoon tea is also available there. As details of the offerings may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before planning a visit.

Naxxar’s village feast is celebrated on September 8; the week-long festivities and events take place in the preceding week. If you’d like to time your trip to coincide with this date, check the event dates for the year in question. This lets you include the recurring feast tradition in your plans without assuming a particular year’s program.

Discover more destinations: Iklin, Żurrieq, Xlendi, Ghammar, San Ġwann, Żabbar, Sannat, Paola

For the broader travel overview: Malta.