| Chapels Around
Birzebbuga : |
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Since the 1436,
Birzebbuga was under the jurisdiction of the Bir Miftuh parish , situated in
the limits of Gudja, but as the population increased constantly, the church
at Birzebbuga was named independent in 1913. In this way the dream of the
people of Birzebbuga of having the church of their own named as parish
church came true. The villages of Hal-Far, Binghisa and Kalafrana are
grouped together to the village of Birzebbuga. From when this village was
named parish in 1913, the head count was of about 1,000. Just about 48 years
later, it was found that the population reached that of 5,239 people and
till now, the population reached a number far bigger than this.
How did the name of Birzebbuga originate?
At around 1800, in St.George’s bay, oil ponds, formed in the rocks, were
still visible from the sea. These served for the storage of oils from
olives. Vassallo G.A confirms this by saying – “Not far away from Marsaxlokk
bay, rocky wells covered with tar were found.” An old tradition says that
these were used for oil storage, that Zejtun had very large quantities, and
therefore this confirms our believes that Birzebbuga means Bir taz-Zebbug
(in english – Wells of oil). |
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Ta
Pintu Battery
his battery may also be recognised as Ta’ Ferretti. It was built by the
Grand Master Pintu in 1761 on the site plans of the engineer Burlemach. It
defended itself with the aid of 13 canons.
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The Ridott of St.
George
A ridott is a sort of fort without any defending walls in the openings of a
camp, made to defend relatively small places. This ridott was built by the
Grand Master De Redin in 1758 and was defended with 6 canons. |
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The Ridott of Kalafrana
This ridott was also built by Grand Master Pintu. The engineer was Burlemach
also and the works were made in 1751. It had 6 canons.
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Borg In-Nadur
In 1922, Miss M. Murray drilled in the nearby fields and the megalithic
dolmen of Borg in-Nadur. There she found several walls and elliptical
abscised. The bad thing, is that still at these times, this place, was not
looked after by people. In fact, a part of Borg in-Nadur is nowadays a
field. In this place a relatively large amount of Terracotta and stone tools
were found. This building shows that from its beginnings it was owned by the
stone age people, and after wards it was used in Bronze age, who probably
took off some of the stones. The large amount of Terracotta that was found,
is without any doubt that of copper and bronze ages. Several items from
stone age were also found.
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The Friefet Cave
In July 1963 at Ghar Friefet an opening was opened in the last week of
September by some of the R.A.F members. This opening showed that it was
originally excavated with the water path flowing from it. From here, some
Terracotta items from the age of Borg in-Nadur and even some fish fossils
(C.1450 W.K). This cave could easily be found in front of Ghar Dalam. |
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Ghar Dalam
Findings in this cave begun in 1865 and till now very interesting items are
still being found. The cave was filled with items from the neolithic age
till 1937 and it served also as shelter for animals. It is also more than
probable that those amounts of stone that was found in it, was carried there
by those who lived there, to build walls, so that the cave could be
seperated from them. Before Ghar Dalam was opened for the public in the
beginnings of March 1933, the caves were cleaned from a relatively large
amount of debris.
Later, when trenches were being excavated, teeth were found. These were
examined by Sir Keith, F.G.S, and it was found that they were HOMO
NEANDERTHALENSIS (Neanderhal humans).
The cave’s floor showed that it was made from different layers. The upper
two layers were made by human work or animals from the neolithic age and the
remaining layers from deposition of waters and rocks that flooded the caves
areas in different times and ages and also under different conditions in
ages named Pleistocenu (from 10,000 years to 1,000,000 years ago). |
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The house of Ipollitto at Wied Zembaq
This 17th century fortified house is situated in Wied Zembaq and throughout
the years remained popular with the local people as The house of Pultu (
Casa Ippolito ). Like all other historical buildings, a legend arose
regarding this house. It is said that Ipoltitto, a Sicilian Knight, loved a
village lady named Catherine from a place known as ‘Ta gellieda‘ near Hal
Kirkop. Her father, who was jealous to the family honor did not want that
Ipollitto falls in love with his daughter, therefore he shooted him and
buried him in a place known as ‘Il-Qlajja’, found between his farm and Wied
Zembaq.
Casa Ippolito together with all its surroundings counts more than 36 acres.
The house is big and made of two storeys. On one side, one can find a yard,
which, because of its level, it is situated below the house level. The yard
has its main entrance on the road side and another door that takes you to
the house. Around this yard, one can find several other rooms. In the
inside, one can also find two stairways, one that gives to the rooms above
the rooms found in the yard, and the other to the terrain plan, level to the
first storey. This storey overlooking the yard, has an entrance taking to a
large hall together with two rooms, one of them was used as a kitchen. This
house also had a room used for storage purposes. Another stairway that takes
to another room in the terrain level is also available. Until some time ago,
information given by Dr Godfrey Randon LL.D, said, that on the main entrance
there was this writing:
QUESTA E’ LA CASA
DI IPPOLITO NOVANTIERI
CHE FECE OGGI QUEL
CHE DOVEA FAR IERI
In 1893, this property was estimated to
cost 750 pounds. |
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