Marsa is shaped by two bays, a separating hill and an Arabic place name. Ancient finds and different periods of its history sit alongside facilities for squash, tennis, cricket and golf. This offers different perspectives when choosing your destination: you can consider Marsa through its landscape, history and the respective visiting or booking conditions for individual sports facilities.
Bays, Landscape and the Place Name
Xatt il-Qwabar is one of the two bays that make up the area of Il-Marsa; Il-Marsa il-Kbira is the second. Għolja tal-Giżwiti separates them. Wied is-Sewda winds its way into the Marsa plain. Three distinct landscape features therefore come together: the bays, the hill between them and the course of Wied is-Sewda into the plain. The name Il-Marsa comes from Arabic and means a place for ships to anchor and moor. Archaeological finds show that the area’s inhabitants already made use of the shelter provided by these bays in antiquity. The meaning of the name and the ancient use of the bays thus represent two different aspects of the area’s maritime history.
Historical Traces in Marsa
During the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, Marsa served as a camp for Ottoman troops. In the 17th century, the historic Museo di San Giacomo was located in Marsa. The church of Trinità Qaddisa was built by Lorenzo Balbi and his wife. On 19 April 1913, Marsa became a parish. Together, these historical references span a military episode, a museum and the area’s ecclesiastical history. They belong to different periods and subjects and can therefore be considered distinct starting points for a cultural exploration of Marsa.
Squash, Tennis and Cricket
Marsa Sports Club has five fully air-conditioned squash courts with glass back walls. Its tennis section has 18 courts, including one clay court and two covered courts. The tennis academy can offer coaching to players of all ability levels; coaching arrangements may change. When choosing, tennis offers several specific features to weigh up: in addition to the total number of courts, there are the clay surface and covered courts. For squash, air conditioning and glass back walls are the features described in more detail. The club’s booking conditions may change, so check them before making specific plans. Cricket is also part of the club: the cricket ground hosts a match every Saturday, although fixtures may change. If you want to plan around a match, check the current fixture list in advance.
Other Sports Facilities
Marsa Sports Complex includes squash courts and a weightlifting centre operated by the national federation. Access to the facilities may change during construction work, so check the visiting conditions before planning a visit. The Royal Malta Golf Club in Marsa welcomes visitors. As visitor conditions may change, it is advisable to check the current conditions before visiting. The practical considerations therefore differ depending on your interests: booking and coaching conditions are relevant for tennis and squash, the fixture list for cricket, and visitor conditions for a golf visit.
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