A sanctuary adorned with marble, gold and crystal chandeliers, a stone memorial arch dating from 1801, and a centuries-old penitential pilgrimage shape Żabbar’s cultural identity. The townscape also includes cultivated farmland and a rocky stretch of beach overlooking the Mediterranean. When deciding whether Żabbar suits your travel interests, this combination is particularly revealing: sacred history and festive culture sit alongside connections to the landscape.
Sanctuary and Historical Traces
Inside the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces, marble, gold and crystal chandeliers are complemented by paintings, an organ and the statue of Our Lady of Graces. These elements bring sacred art and music together in the same interior. The history of Żabbar’s churches can also be understood through distinct periods: the present parish church was built between 1641 and 1696. This is distinct from the role of St Mary’s Church, which served as Żabbar’s parish church during the French occupation from 1798 to 1800.
Further traces of the French period can be found in the church museum, where cannonballs recovered from the dome of the old church are on display. The image of Our Lady of Graces in Żabbar was crowned on 2 September 1951. The town’s history thus brings together ecclesiastical functions, an object preserved in the collection, and a precisely dated religious event.
Il-Mina ta’ Hompesch, also known as Hompesch Gate, is a neoclassical stone memorial arch at the western entrance to Żabbar. It was built in 1801 to commemorate Żabbar’s elevation to city status and is designated a Grade 1 national monument. The arch thus links a specific civic commemoration with a clearly defined architectural style.
Festive Culture, Music and Pilgrimages
The Società Filarmonica Maria Mater Gratiæ was founded in 1883 to promote a love of music and provide entertainment for the people of Żabbar. Its cultural programme includes brass-band music during the feast week of Our Lady of Graces, religious processions, event-related exhibitions and music concerts. Individual events vary. The Blue Arena Theatre adds to these festivities as an Art Deco open-air theatre that opened in 1948: during the feast month, it is regularly used for various activities organised by the society’s youth and brass band.
Ħadd in-Nies is a centuries-old penitential pilgrimage through the streets of Żabbar, followed by a Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces. The motorcycle and bicycle pilgrimages also have a documented history: the motorcycle pilgrimage began in 1951, and the bicycle pilgrimage four years later. These historical beginnings do not indicate what the arrangements will be for any particular travel date. If you plan to visit Żabbar for a procession, pilgrimage or event, check the dates and current arrangements for your intended year of travel.
Landscape and Choosing Where to Stay
Żabbar is surrounded by cultivated farmland. There is also a rocky stretch of beach near the town, overlooking the Mediterranean. These features offer a different perspective when choosing where to stay than the town’s church and festival history: you can consider whether you are mainly interested in religious and historical subjects or would also like to take in the surrounding landscape.
Another practical point for pedestrians and cyclists is Triq Żabbar, which connects Żejtun with Ħaż-Żabbar. A government project completed there in March 2025 created a zone for pedestrians and cyclists more than one kilometre long. If you are looking for accommodation in Żabbar, you can use the cultural and landscape highlights described here to guide your choice. For stays around festivals and pilgrimages tied to specific dates, it is also worth checking the programme for the relevant year.
Discover more destinations: Mosta, Kercem, Attard, Ghammar, Swieqi, Fgura, Qala, Marsaxlokk.
For the wider travel overview: Malta.
