Chapels Around Birzebbuga :

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).


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.

 
 


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.


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.
 

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.



 

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.


















 

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).


































 
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.