Marsaxlokk | Marsacala | Birzebbugia
Malta's largest, and probably most colorful fishing village. Every Sunday there is a market, probably the largest on the island. This market specializes in fish in particular. There are also some very good fish restaurants in Marsaxlokk. Here one can see the typical Maltese fishing boats known as Dghajsas.
These boats date back to Phoenician times. The boats are painted different colors and fishermen usually paint an eye on each side of the bow - they are supposed the eyes of the goddess Osiris and to guard against bad luck. Fishermen are by nature superstitious people. Close to the harbor is the parish church of Marsaxlokk dedicated to Our Lady of Pompei. Marsaxlokk is made up of two words - Marsa which means a harbor and xlokk which means south-east. Marsaxlokk is a fishing harbor in the south-eastern part of the island.
Marsascala is another fishing village. This little quiet village is fast growing into a tourist resort. Hotels are being built and there are several restaurants and snack bars and like Marsaxlokk it enjoys a beautiful promenade all along the harbor with open-air cafes.
This is the last of the three fishing villages. Birzebbugia, like Marsaxlokk and Marsascala enjoys a beautiful promenade. In Birzebbugia is also the only sandy beach in the southern part of the island and very aptly called Pretty Bay. The bus from Valletta stops at the terminus within a few meters of this sandy beach. It is indeed very pretty and in very close proximity to the bay are some restaurants and snack bars. Buses ply regularly every 15 minutes between Birzebbugia and Valletta.