San Ġwann: Nature and History

If you’re looking for a hotel in San Ġwann, nature and history can offer a helpful starting point. The town’s features range from a designated bird sanctuary and a garden that provides a habitat for pollinators to archaeological traces and historic buildings. These themes are easy to distinguish: protected areas and habitats sit alongside a long history rooted in different periods. You can start by deciding which aspect of the town is of particular interest to you on your trip.

Nature and protected areas

Wied Għollieqa is designated as a bird sanctuary and is also a Special Area of Conservation of national importance. This makes San Ġwann interesting to travellers who take protected areas into account when choosing a destination. Another nature-related attraction is Ġnien id-Dakkara: the garden provides a habitat for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The two examples represent different aspects of nature: Wied Għollieqa represents designated area protection, while Ġnien id-Dakkara provides a habitat for pollinators. If you’re comparing nature-related features, this distinction offers a concrete way to differentiate between protected-area status and habitat function.

Archaeological traces and their dating

The cart ruts of San Ġwann are located near the Sant Andrija area. They probably predate the Punic period and are dated to around 2300–1000 BC. This range provides a broad timeframe, not a single year of origin; the dating to before the Punic period is considered probable. The cart ruts are also considered the oldest human remains in San Ġwann. Their location, dating and age ranking provide different points of reference: their proximity to Sant Andrija indicates where they are, while their dating and age ranking mark their historical significance within the town.

The Roman Tower of Ta’ Cieda offers a different historical perspective. It is considered the best-known archaeological relic from the historic period in San Ġwann. The cart ruts and the tower can therefore be compared by their different dating: a probable pre-Punic date alongside a relic from the historic period. For travellers interested in history, these are two clearly distinct points of reference, and the dating of the cart ruts should not be applied to the tower.

Historic buildings in Mensija and Ta’ Wied Għomor

Torri Ta Lanzun is located in Mensija, San Ġwann, opposite the parish church. The building is also known as Castello Lanzun or Castle of the Lance; these names refer to the same building. It consists of a main building, a tower containing the Order’s chapel, and a large courtyard. In 1973, it was formally inaugurated as the official headquarters of the Grand Master by the 48th Grand Master, Don Francisco de Borbón y Escasany. Its architectural features and institutional history offer two distinct ways to understand Castello Lanzun.

Another historical point of reference is the Chapel of St. Philip and St. James, also known as Tal-Prepostu. It was built in 1733 by Fr. Gaspare Giuseppe Vassallo on land in Ta’ Wied Għomor. The year marks the construction of the chapel; 1973 marks the formal inauguration of Castello Lanzun as the Grand Master’s headquarters. This chronological comparison places two different buildings and events in San Ġwann in context: the chapel’s construction in 1733 and the institutional history of Castello Lanzun in the 20th century.

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