Żejtun

35.85516914.535544Koordinaten: 35 ° 51 ' N, 14 ° 32' O

Żejtun (also: Iż - Żejtun ) is a city in the east of Malta, the 11,622 inhabitants (December 31, 2010). Żejtun also has the title of Città Beland, which was bestowed by Ferdinand von Hompesch her ​​to Bolheim, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta 1797. The name Żejtun comes from the production of olive oil, one of the main economic activities in Malta. The current pastor is Eric Overland, the current mayor Joe Attard.

History

The south of Malta - - In the Middle Ages, the area around Żejtun as le Terre di Santa Caterina (Land of St. Catherine ) is known. Italian was the official language at that time. From the parish Żejtun several new settlements, as Għaxaq and Marsaxlokk emerged. Each of these settlements is a separate parish today. The stationed in Żejtun militia regiment was the first to be recorded it with the Turks at the beginning of the Great Siege in 1565, but until 1614 the city had to suffer raids of Turkish pirates. This year stationed in Żejtun forces repulsed a Turkish attack without the help of other organizations. During the French naval blockade from 1799 to 1801, the city played a minor role as a barracks. As one of the first cities outside the fortification around the Grand Harbour Żejtun had a public park, the Luqa Briffa Garden, which was named after a famous cavalrymen from the time of the Great Siege of Malta.

Żejtun survived the period of British occupation of the Maltese Islands as a rustic retreat in the green fields of the Mazza Valley. It had only one of the many hospitals in which British and French soldiers were cared for in the First World War, which the islands the nickname " Nurse of the Mediterranean" earned. The Maltese independence, the city was expanded by private homes, commercial areas and other residential areas to the historic city center.

During the last fifty years the city was known for its hot political struggles, the 1987 in a true battle between the supporters of the Nationalists ( partId Nazzjonalista ) and those of the Workers' Party (Malta Labour Party ) culminated in the main street Tal- Barrani. The city is connected to the dark political history of Malta in the 1980s, and its inhabitants are not particularly considered until today because of the heated political debates in Malta.

Churches, chapels and historical remains

The city has a number of Roman legacies, eg a Roman villa and a church, dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Your foundation stone was consecrated in 1622 and the first pastor was Dun Pawl Branchel. This church, completed in 1720, was the successor to a former church, which today still stands on the outskirts even of St. Catherine is consecrated, in the population, however, is known as St. Gregory. Presumably, this is due to the annual procession for these saints, who moved in the middle ages to Mdina here.

Żejtun has a large number of chapels, eg to St. Clement, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Mary), the Most Holy Redeemer (Jesus), The Assumption (Mary), are dedicated to the Holy Spirit and St. Angelus.

The city festival

The most important event in the annual cycle is the Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, which is celebrated in the summer, and not on actual memorial day, November 25th. On this day the two rival musical traits of Żejtun, the " Banda Beland " and at Gregory Bonnici Square play " Żejtun Band" ( main square of the city). The anthem of St. Catherine, which is sung during the feast in Żejtun was written by Emmanuele Palmier - Cecy and composed by Dun Lawrence Mifsud. Until the 1970s, was celebrated as a second hard that of " Our Lady of Doctrine " ( Maria).

Train

Another well-known composer who was born in Żejtun, Carlo Diacono was. According to him, a high school for girls (Girl 's Junior Lyceum ), a few streets from St Gregory 's Church named. Another notable school in Żejtun is the primary school whose building was built in the new -classical style during the British occupation.