Shout-out to ?urrieq, a quiet town on the almost-but-not-quiet-so-southern edge of Malta. Between its picturesque views and rich history, and the slew of people thinking “hemm fejn jigi?”, this age-old hometown deserves more than a little love.

1. It’s old AF

?urrieq as we know it today dates back to the beginning of the 15th century, when it comprised of several now-defunct villages including Bubaqra, Hal-Lew and Hal-Manin, as well as the present-day village of Qrendi (which became a separate entity more than two-hundred years later).

2. There’s archaeology for days

No stranger to archaeological treasure troves, ?urrieq began unearthing the past as early back as 1885, when a Phoenician tomb containing pottery and human remains was discovered in an area known as Ta’ Danieri. Other findings include the cart ruts of Tal-Bakkari, a number of Punic-Roman towers, and Paleo-Christian tombs.

3. You can visit a traditional working mill

One of four windmills still standing in ?urrieq and the only one in working order complete with sails, the Xarolla Windmill dates back to 1724 when it was built on the orders of Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena. As of 1992, it is one of the only remaining traditional windmills in Malta and Gozo, with parts of its original mechanism still in play.

4. Palaces and towers are a thing here too

Palaces and towers are a thing of Malta’s old cities, but ?urrieq has its fair share too. Nigret Palace (now doubling as both a convent and an orphanage) was originally built in 1715, and includes a baroque-styled chapel. A second palace, known to locals as It-Torri ta’ Bubaqra is now a private residence.

?urrieq also has its own coastal watchtower, the Wardija Tower. It was orginally called Torre della Guardia del Giorno and was completed in 1659 on the orders of Grandmaster Martino de Redin.

5. There’s an uninhabited islet you can visit (kind of)

Filfla: remember that spit of land? As an administrative division of the town, both it and neighbouring Filfoletta Rock technically fall under ?urrieq‘s jurisdiction. The islet has its own fair share of history, with historical records pointing to evidence of a chapel being built inside a cave as early as 1343. It was used as for target practice by the British Royal Navy and Royal Air Force until 1971, and is now a bird reserve and a marine protected area, with visits to the islet only allowed on special request.

6. This town has its own party district

Yes, you read that correctly. The Warehouse Club opened its doors way back in 2015, and is perfect for all your underground/rave junkies or someone looking out for the local alternative music scene.

7. You can pick a new jogging route every day

?urrieq and its neighbouring towns and villages are brimming with sprawling countryside and long coastal walks, making it the perfect place for your morning run or an evening walk. Why not visit the belvedere and look over the Blue Grotto, or take a slow jog through the fields at sunset; we know some great real estate agents if you’re considering a move there too.

Did we miss out on any of ?urrieq‘s highlights? Let us know in the comments section below

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Matthew Baldacchino

Self-titled resident SJW and expressionless in-house Head of Internal Marketing. Matt loves prepping vegan and vegetarian food, consumes way too much coffee, and has an unhealthy penchant for storyboarded Instagram Stories. When he's not trying to figure out social media policies, marketing strategies or cracking SEO conundrums, you can catch him as the host of Basically, Livestream Of Consciousness or Lovin Daily. Hit him up if you've got a story about the environment, arts and culture, health, politics and activism, or LGBTQI+ issues. He's also a doctor, but we don't talk about that.