Kalkara is a small town in Malta, with a current population of 2,871 (Nov 2005). The name comes from the Latin word for lime (Calce), as there was a lime kiln present there since Roman times.[1]
History
The village of Kalkara consists of two inlets that sprout out in the Grand Harbour of Malta. These are respectively known as Rinella Bay and Kalkara Creek. It also comprises two peninsulas, today known as Bighi and as Ricasoli respectively. Some historians believe that the land that today is known as Kalkara, was the first to be inhabited by the initial dwellers of Malta that came from nearby island of Sicily. The idea behind this theory is that the mentioned inlets could have provided these primitive emigrants with the needed shelter after having endured heavy storms which at that time where present in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Christian era in Kalkara presumably began with the construction of the Palaeochristian hypogea in the zone known as Xagħra ta' Santa Duminka situated in its parish boundary. In them, the first Christian cults began to be performed and this is today attributed to the depiction of an Orant inside the hypogea.
The name given to this village, Kalkara, comes from the Latin word calce literally meaning lime (in Maltese ġir), the reason for this being that in this locality lime-kilns were usually found. Thus, its motto is A Calce Nomen. The emblem is a green scutcheon, divided into two parts: half being blue representing the sea, and the other being gold with a burning flame.
However, this village is mostly known for building boats, known as the Maltese dgħajsa and for oarsmen (barklori). From medieval times, the Kalkariżi took part in the national regattas with their own constructed boats.
The Chapel of Our Saviour (is-Salvatur)
Early historians give us the year 1487 as the most probable date in which a chapel dedicated to Jesus Christ under the title of Our Saviour was founded in the area known as "la punta sottile della Rinella". However, from pastoral visits that were done during the time of the Knights of the Order of Saint John, this chapel was pulled done upon order by the Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette during the Great Siege of 1565. The given reason was that through being demolished, it would not provide any shelter for the invading Turks.
In 1580, Claudio Abela and Davidde Burlò received permission from the Grand Master La Cassiere to build a chapel in the same site where the mentioned chapel stood. In this chapel, bailiff Fra Giovanni Bichi, nephew of Pope Alexander VII, was buried in 1676 after having died due to the plague.
Meanwhile, in 1680 this chapel was again rebuilt, this time on the design of the renouned Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafà. The commission came from Fra Mario Bichi, who was the nephew of Fra Mario. The titular painting of this chapel showed the Transfiguration of Our Lord and was painted by Mattia Preti. Unfortunately, this painting was stolen in 1798 by the invading French, and another painting had to be done by Francesco Madiona.
The feast of Our Saviour was celebrated annually on the 6th of August. On this day and till 1811, local bread was shared out among the villagers. This chapel had large amounts of land in its possession, amongts which the land on which Bighi Naval Hospital was built.
The Chapel of Our Saviour served as the Parish Church of Kalkara in the 1940s, after the first Parish Church was totally destroyed in the Second World War.
The First Parish Church
On the 23rd August 1884, the businessman Fortunato Gulia donated a piece of land that he owned in Kalkara for the building of a new church. The bishop entrusted this piece of work to Fr. Joseph Azzopardi, who at that time was Rector of the Chapel of Our Saviour. Another piece of land was bought from the Chapter of Cospicua so as to be added to the one donated by Gulia, and on 13 September 1884, Fr. Azzopardi set up a committee for the building up of this Church. The committee members were: Mr. Carmelo Bugeja, Mr. Fortunato Gulia, Mr. Gio Batta Farrugia, Mr. Orazio Agius, and Mr. Paolo Debono as Secretary.
Fr. Joseph Azzopardi commissioned Guglielmo Attard as Architect of this project, and instantly donations began to be collected. It was on 22 June 1890 that the bishop solemnly blessed the first stone of the Church, during a festive atmosphere which was organised. In 1895, the construction of the Church, which was decided to be dedicated to Saint Joseph Patron of the Universal Church, had been finished, and hence in 1896 decorations in stone began to be done.
Some paintings were also commissioned, among which one may mention: the painting of Saint Philip commission by F. Cilia & Co. (the masons of the Church) to the painter Lazzaro Pisani, and the painting of Our Lady of the Rosary. A statue of Saint Joseph made by Etienne Puccini was brought by Fr. Azzopardi from Toulouse, France.
On 10 December 1897, Kalkara became an independent Parish, and from that date onwards, the Parish Church began to be enriched with other magnificent pieces of sacred art. The first Parish Priest was Fr. Joseph Ciangura of Senglea. The titular painting, commissioned to Giuseppe Calì and showing Saint Joseph as the Patron Saint of the Universal Church, was finished by 1898, and the first processional feast was done during that year. In 1899, the sacred reliquary came from Italy. In the beginning of the 20th century, the pulpit, a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, and a girandola, among other things, emerged in the Parish Church, through the great zeal of the parishioners.
The church was consecrated on the 30th January 1921, and in 1921 Circolo San Giuseppe commissioned a new statue of Saint Joseph from Agostino Camilleri. In 1923, the first stone of the bellfry was collocated, and after this was duly finished, the bell made by Julius Cauchi in 1896 sounded its first motives. In 1925, Fr. Eleazzaro Balzan became the new Parish Priest. In 1933 he commissioned a superbly designed organ balcony.
However, on the 10th of April 1942, the Parish Church was heavily assaulted by enemy bombardments from the air in the Second World War. Unfortunately, the Church was fully demolished through these bombardments, and tragically enough, all its treasures were lost. Even the titular statue was found in pieces! However, the destiny of the paintings was different, since these were saved by Mons. Michael Gonzi, Gozo’s bishop, who had taken them to the sister island of Gozo for refuge some time before.
The Present Parish Church
On 21 November 1943, Rev. Carmelo Xuereb was officially installed as the third Parish Priest of Kalkara. His main duty was to rebuild the Parish Church and the community of Kalkara after these were destroyed through World War II. In 1944 a temporary church was inaguarated in the ex-Malta Gas Works stores. During this period, a new design for the new Parish Church was approved. This was made by Chev. Vincenzo Bonello with the necessary help of Joseph D’Amato. Having a neo-classical design, the new Parish Church was to be built in another place from where it previously stood. Thus, Archbishop Mons. Michael Gonzi bought a piece of land known as tal-Għeżieli near the strand of Kalkara.
The first stone of the new church was blessed on 13 October 1946 and it took nearly six years to be fully built up. All the residents of Kalkara gave a helping hand in this project, even women and children. The building is a masterpiece in sculpture in Maltese globigerina limestone. Meanwhile on 13 March 1949, the new titular statue representing Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church arrived in Kalkara through a pilgramage from nearby Cospicua. This statue is also a masterpiece in wood and was sculptured by the renouned artist Ferdinando Stuflesser in Bolzano, Italy through a design of Chev. Vincenzo Bonello. With this statue, another one representing Our Lady of Lourdes was also commissioned.
The new church was duly finished by 7 September 1952 when it was blessed by Mons. Gonzi. The same Archbishop celebrated the first mass in it few moments after the blessing. However, after 1952, the new Parish Church began to be decorated by other works of art. In 1953 Mr. Loreto Mintoff donated a fine marble high-altar for the church from Pietrasanta in Italy. Other works of art such as the marble pulpit, the marble pavement of the church, the Via Sacra, among others were duly blessed in future years. The new Parish Church was consecrated on 12 December 1954. In future years further works of art have been made to decorate “one of the most splendid churches built after World War II”.
Fortifications and other historical sites
In Kalkara, due to its neighbourhood, one may find various fortifications and other historical sites.
Fort Ricasoli
The design of this fort was done by Count Valperga in 1670. Previously on the same site of its erection, there was a tower known as “Torri Orsi”, but Grand Master Nicholas Cottoner decided that a new fort should be built on the Rinella Peninsula so as to safeguard the entrance of the Grand Harbour from the invading Turks. Comm. Giovanni Ricasoli donated a large sum of money for its completion, and due to this after it was duly finished, the fort was given the name “Ricasoli”. The fort was extensively used both by the Knights of Saint John and even by the British, who also used it as a prison. In this fort there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
Fort Our Saviour (“Salvatur”)
In 1724 Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena ordered that a new fort had to be built near the entrance to Kalkara so as to protect nearby Vittoriosa and to safeguard from above the Grand Harbour. During the British reign, this fort was used as a reformatory for children.
Villa Bighi
In 1650, together with the chapel of Our Saviour, Fra Giovanni Bighi erected near the same site a large villa overlooking the entrance of the Grand Harbour. During the plague of 1813 this villa was used as a temporary hospital. However, through a decree by King George IV, on 23 March 1830, Vice-Admiral Sir P. Malcolm laid down the foundation stone of a Naval Hospital on the site where Villa Bighi was situated after it was pulled down. Bighi Naval Hospital took two years to be completed and figured £20,000 of capital expenditure. During the British reign it was used extensively, and nowadays it is serving as an International School of Restoration. An establishment nearby Villa Bighi is being used by Circolo San Giuseppe Filarmonika Sagra Familja as Dar l-Armar il-Ġilju ta’ Lulju.
Villa Portelli
Over-looking Kalkara Creek there is Villa Portelli which is a large villa built by Sir Agostino Portelli as a summer residence. Through World War II this villa served as the residence of the Flag Officer while in 1961 Admirals began to use it as their residence.
All above information was edited by Circolo San Giuseppe Filarmonika Sagra Familja, Kalkara (A.D. 1897) and taken from www.sagrafamilja.org. Copyright reserved.
Band Clubs
- Circolo San Giuseppe Filarmonika Sagra Familja A.D 1897
- St. Joseph Band Club A.D. 1987 (L-Għaqda Mużikali San Ġużepp A.D. 1987)
Local Council
The current local council members are:
- Michael Cohen (Mayor) - PL
- Norbert Grech (Vice Mayor) - PL
- Speranza Chircop - PL
- Roderick Mizzi - PL
- Maria Sultana - PN
Zones
- Bighi
- Fort Ricasoli
- Il-Wileġ (The Open Fields)
- It-Turretta (The Turrett)
- Kalkara Creek
- Ricasoli Point
- Rinella Bay
- San Pietru (Saint Peter)
- Santa Liberata (Saint Liberatas)
- Santu Rokku (Saint Rocco)
- Smart City Malta (Ricasoli Industrial Estate)
- Ta' Tewma (Garlic's Village)
- Ta' Wied Għammieq (Ghammieq Valley's Village)
- Tar-Ramel (Sandy Village)
- Wied Rinella (Rinella Valley)
Main Roads
- Misraħ l-Arċisqof Gonzi (Archbishop Gonzi Square)
- Triq il-Marina (Marina Street)
- Triq il-Missjoni Taljana (Italian Mission Street)
- Triq Rinella (Rinella Road)
- Triq San Leonardu (St. Leonard Street)
- Triq Santa Liberta (St Libertas Street)
- Triq Santu Rokku (St Rocco Street)
- Xatt tal-Kalkara (Kalkara Strand)
See also
References
- ^ [1]
External links
Coordinates: 35°53′21″N 14°31′46″E / 35.88917°N 14.52944°E / 35.88917; 14.52944
