Fun Facts You May Not Know About: Kalkara
Let me take you on a magical visit to Kalkara, a charming town nestled beside the Grand Harbour, overflowing with history, harbour views, and hidden stories!
From Lime Kilns to Fishing Boats
A long time ago, Kalkara’s name came from the Latin word calce, meaning lime, because people used to make lime here way back in Roman times. That’s how the town got its name!Then it grew into a small fishing village around the safe little inlet of Kalkara Creek, where shiny boats bob in the water today.Ancient Beginnings & Sacred Underground
Some stories say that Kalkara may have been one of the first places in Malta where people from Sicily settled. The cliffs and harbour offered them a safe place to land!
There’s even a hidden underground area called Xagħra ta’ Santa Duminka, where early Christians met and worshipped. That’s where the town’s Christian journey began!
Big Forts Watching Over the Sea
Kalkara is surrounded by mighty forts! One of the most famous is Fort Ricasoli, the largest fort in Malta, built between 1670 and 1698 to protect the Grand Harbour from enemies.
Nearby stands Fort Saint Rocco, built in the late 1800s by the British to guard the coastline—just one of the many forts that kept the island safe.
A Palace That Cared for Soldiers
Not far from the sea is the beautiful Villa Bighi, once the Royal Naval Hospital Bighi, built in the 1830s. It was a hospital that helped sailors and soldiers feel better during tough times.
A Church with a Harbour Hello
Kalkara’s grand St Joseph’s Parish Church stands right by the bay. The second one was built after World War II, in 1952, because the earlier one was sadly destroyed during wartime.
Boats, Regattas, and a Town That Lives
Kalkara locals are brilliant boat builders! They craft their own boats, like dgħajsa and barklori, and race them in colourful regattas that everyone loves!
Today, Kalkara is a lovely small town with about 3,000 residents, hugged by the Grand Harbour and dotted by coves like Rinella Bay and Kalkara Creek.
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