MALTA: Żejtun - A Heritage Walk

Żejtun or Città Beland is a town of 12,000 inhabitants in the south of Malta. Żejtun was bestowed with the title of Città Beland by Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bohheim, Grandmaster of Knights of Malta in 1797. Beland was his mother's surname.

Żejtun derives from the Arabic "Zaytun" which means "olive" because it was one of the main industry in this area. It was also known as Ħal-Bisbut or Casal Bisbut.

The Parish Church was buit in 1720 and its architect was Malta's Lorenzo Gafa'. It replaced the old Parish Church which today is known as San Girgor. The beautiful statue of St Catherine of Alexandria V.M. was cared in wood circa 1760.

Żejtun has two band clubs: The Beland Band Club established c. 1860 and the Żejtun Band Club esatablished circa 1933.

Some of the info was taken from the book "The Parish of Żejtun through the ages" by Rev. Joe Abela of Żejtun.

Our thanks to Maj. Tony Abela for his continuous support and cooperation and for providing some of the photos and for the informative tour he kindly gave us of Żejtun. Thanks also to Fr Joe Abela and the Parish Church, as well as to the Sagristan, Pawlu Żammit for the tour he gave us of the church and the crypts.

Unless indicated, all photos were taken by Choy Hong (Jasmine) Grech

Video by Alfred and Jasmine Grech, Mosta, Malta

© jasalf5959 - 2009