Focus On: The Three Villages

Since we are at the start of the cooler, rainy season in Malta I have decided to write a series of blogs that talk about a number of smaller villages that are not usually busy with tourists, and that will give visitors an insight into village life in Malta. To start this series, I have decided that my first blog will be about what locals call the Three Villages.

The Three Cities found in the southern part of the Island are quite well known amongst tourists, and a trip to Malta will generally include a visit to the Three Cities; however the Three Villages are not as well known. These villages go by the names of Attard, Balzan and Lija, and although they are now a bit bigger than your typical village, they are still too small and not busy enough to call them towns. These three villages merge into each other, however each one has it's own parish church and village square complete and their own parish church means that they also have their own village feast at some point during the summer months. After the Great Siege of 1565, many noble families chose to build their houses here, giving the villages their fine architecture with a semi-urban sophistication.

What to see & do:

San Anton Palace & Garden was built in the early 17th century by Grand Master Antoine De Paule and was used as his country mansion. It later served as the official residence of the British Governor of Malta, and is now the home of the President of Malta. Although the main building is not accessible to the public, the lush walled gardens, which contain citrus groves and a bird aviary provide for a lovely relaxing walk.

If you are travelling with your children, why not walk to the end of the gardens and cross the narrow road to the President's Kitchen Garden. This part of the gardens was officially opened around 5 years ago as an extension to the rest of the gardens. The Kitchen Garden has provided the palace with vegetables since the time of the knights. Nowadays, besides providing crops to the President's kitchen, the Kitchen Garden also boasts a large play area for children, a petting farm, and a cafe that offers a selection of light snacks and drinks. Profits from the sales from the cafeteria go to the Community Chest Fun, the president's charity.


Where to Eat:

Jalie's Coffee, Cakes & Bakes - if you're looking for somewhere to grab a light snack, or maybe you would like a cup of tea and a piece of cake, then Jalie's is definitely the place to visit. This little cafe is located just behind the Attard Parish Church, and is usually quite busy with locals after mass on a Saturday evening or Sunday. The owners of Jalie's describe the place as "a combination of Yorkshire warmth and hospitality with traditional English dishes couples with a varied menu of tasty bites".

Jus Dine & Wine - if you're looking for a restaurant that offers a finer dining experience, then I would definitely suggest Jus. This restaurant is located in the old village core of Attard, in one of the narrow winding streets that lead to the Parish Church. Jus is quite a small restaurant, offering an intimate and personal dining experience. Jus offers a selection of international dishes, however, their special touch has to be their experiments with Molecular Gastronomy. 

Would you like to know more about the Three Villages? Drop us a line by clicking here and we'll be more than happy to give you more information