Mellieħa
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| Mellieħa | |
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 Coat of arms |
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| Official name: | Il-Mellieħa |
| Inhabitants' name: | Mellieħi (m), Mellieħija (f), Mellieħin (pl) |
| Other names: | (code: MLĦ) |
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| Latitude: | 35°57 '23" N |
| Longitude: | 14°21 '59" E |
| Area: | 22.6km² |
| Population total: | 7,676 (Nov 2005) |
| Population density: | 339/km² |
| Borders: | St. Paul's Bay, Mġarr |
| Patron saint: | Our Lady of Victories |
| Day of festa: | 8th September |
| Mayor: | Robert Cutajar (PN) |
| Website: | mellieha.gov.mt/ |
Mellieħa [me-lee-ha] (also called Il-Mellieħa) is a large village (pop. 7,549 (Nov 2005)) in the northwestern part of Malta. It is a popular tourist destination during the summer months. Mellieħa as a village developed under the British colonization. The British started proposing people to settle in this area by giving leases to the population. It was only during this time that it started to be inhabited again as for two centuries it was abandoned due to fear from attacks of corsairs and Saracens, and beforehand there were only some villagers used to live in the area. After the British encouraged Maltese to settle in Mellieħa, the village kept on flourishing. Nowadays, the village also includes a large number of villas. Even foreigners choose to settle in Mellieħa.
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[edit] Architecture
Ruins and tombs show Mellieħa to have been inhabited from Neolithic times to the Byzantine era, but the area was deserted after the Arab conquest (870), likely due to frequent raids by Muslim corsairs. In 1530 the island was handed over to the Knights of Malta, and Mellieħa was one of the many settlements they established, complete with fortifications and a church: The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa, which became one of the island's most venerated places.
[edit] Popeye Village
- Main article: Popeye Village
Mellieħa is now a tourist resort, featuring Malta's largest sandy beach, Għadira. Another popular attraction is the set of the 1980 film Popeye. A short drive away from Għadira, the set is a collection of various ramshackle buildings that made up the city of Sweethaven. The 'town' was originally built using several thousand planks, eight tons of nails, and 2,000 gallons of paint. To this day the set draws a considerable amount of tourism, with daily Popeye-related shows taking place for the tourists.
[edit] Feast of Our Lady of Victories
Each village in Malta has its own festival. The festival in Mellieħa, the feast of Our Lady of Victories, begins on August 30 and culminates on September 8, commemorating the repelling of the Great Siege in 1565. This feast celebrates the victory the Maltese people had over the Ottomans, a victory that many believe saved Europe's Christianity.
[edit] Band Clubs
- La Vittoria Philharmonic Society – Established in 1907
- Imperial Band Club – Established in 1930
[edit] List of Zones in Mellieħa
- Aħrax Point
- Anchor Bay (Il-Prajjiet)
- Armier Bay
- Biskra
- Ċirkewwa
- Daħlet ix-Xilep
- Ġnien Ingraw
- Ġnien Ta' Xatba
- Golden Bay
- Għadira Bay
- Għajn Ħadid
- Għajn Tuffieħa
- Għajn Żejtuna
- Għajn Żnuber
- Għar Bagrat
- Għerbulin
- Id-Daħar
- Is-Sellum
- Kortin
- L-Aħrax ta' Ġewwa
- L-Aħrax ta' l-Għajn
- Latmija
- Madonna
- Manikata
- Marbat
- Marfa Ridge
- Marfa Point
- Mellieħa Bay
- Mellieħa Ridge
- Mġiebaħ
- Naħħalija
- Paradise Bay
- Parsott
- Qammieħ
- Qasam Barrani
- Qortin
- Qortin ta' Għajn Żejtuna
- Ramla tal-Bir
- Ramla tal-Qortin
- Ramla tat-Torri
- Ras il-Griebeġ
- Ras il-Qammieħ
- Ras il-Waħx
- Ras in-Niexfa
- Rdum id-Dell
- Rdum il-Bies
- Rdum il-Ħmar
- Rdum il-Qammieħ
- Rdum il-Qawwi
- Rdum l-Aħmar
- Rdum Majesa
- Rdum tal-Madonna
- San Niklaw
- Santa Marija Estate
- Selmun Bay
- Ta' Ċantar
- Ta' l-Imgħarrqa
- Ta' Pennellu
- Ta' Qassisu
- Ta' Randa
- Ta' Skrajda
- Tal-Blata
- Tal-Braġ
- Tas-Salib
- Wied l-Abjad
- Xagħra l-Ħamra
[edit] Mellieħa Main Roads
- Dawret il-Mellieħa (Mellieħa By-Pass)
- Triq Ġorġ Borg Olivier (Ġorġ Borg Olivier Street)
- Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Triq il-Marfa (Marfa Road)
- Triq il-Prajjiet (Anchor Bay Road)
- Triq Louis Wettinger (Louis Wettinger Street)
- Triq San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay Road)
[edit] External links
- Mellieħa Local Council official web site
- Mellieħa.info - Information site
- Mellieħa.com - Commercial site
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