The South

Once a sleepy fishing village Marsascala now has a population of over 9000 and is a popular place to visit with the Maltese. For the visitor to Malta this town offers a chance to enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle in the company of locals rather than foreigners. The town is built around the bay and has a number of restaurants and bars all close to the sea. Within the vicinity you can visit St. Thomas Tower, built in 1614 by Grand Master Wignacourt, Marsascala Parish Church finished in 1973, St. Thomas Bay with its sandy beach, and the salt pans visible on both sides of the bay.

If you pictured a sleepy Mediterranean fishing village in your mind then Marsaxlokk would fit the bill. It has Malta’s largest fishing fleet and you can see the boats, (luzzus), at anchor across the bay.  It is also not unusual to see fishermen working on their nets along the quayside. 

There is a small market on the quayside selling local produce and the village has a fish market. There are a number of restaurants around the harbour where you can enjoy the freshly caught fish.

About Marsaxlokk

• This village is also called Marsa Scirocco, meaning a village in the South East of Malta.
• It’s a traditional fishing village located along Marsaxlokk bay. However it’s the foremost fishing village and perhaps the most picturesque seaside locality in Malta.
• There is also the open market where not only fish is sold but also souvenirs, clothes and other items that one finds in an open market.
• A short distance away from this village is the archaeological site of Tas-Silg, still in the process of being excavated. It contains megalithic temples of the Tarxien phase.
• The contemporary population of this village is of 4,000.
• The bay is memorable for the many ‘eyed boats’, these painted eyes are believed to protect the boats from the evil eye.