Zeitun can be explored through its churches and local history, heritage routes, traditional crafts and olive culture. These themes offer different perspectives: architectural history sits alongside routes through the town and activities that draw on craft or religious traditions. When planning your trip, you can therefore first decide whether you mainly want to explore historic sites, follow a route or plan your stay around a local festival.
Churches and the town’s history
The parish church of St. Catherine was built between 1692 and 1720 to a design by Lorenzo Gafà. The Żejtun Parish Church Museum is next to it. The church and museum are therefore two neighboring places from which to explore this part of the town’s history. Another important historical detail concerns Saint Gregory’s Chapel: it served Iż-Żejtun as a parish church from 1400 to 1720.
The time periods can be compared without equating the two buildings: the construction of the parish church of St. Catherine partly coincided with the period when Saint Gregory’s Chapel served as a parish church. This brings together a long-standing religious function and the creation of the church built to Gafà’s design. Those interested in architectural and church history will find two distinct points of reference here.
Heritage routes and a view of the landscape
The Heritage Route through the center of Żejtun shows the development of a typical Mediterranean community. A separate Heritage Route is designated for Bisqallin, the lower village of Żejtun. These are different ways of exploring the area: one route through the center and another specifically designated for Bisqallin. No walking time or distance is specified for these routes, so plan your choice according to the destination rather than an assumed duration.
Beyond the town center, the Heritage Malta trail “Towards the Sun in the South” leads from Żejtun towards Delimara, Xrobb l-Għaġin and Wied il-Għajn. Its described route therefore differs from those within the town. Check the trail’s status before undertaking this walk. For a different view of the surroundings, head to San Girgor Garden, which overlooks the surrounding agricultural landscape.
Crafts and archaeological insights
The Arts & Crafts Centre is housed in a typical old Maltese home and serves as a center for training in traditional crafts. The character and use of the building go hand in hand: the center represents both a traditional building style and the passing on of craft skills. For travelers interested in crafts, this subject complements the churches and local history with a different way of experiencing Żejtun’s culture.
Two other places also offer insights into past ways of life and work. The Żejtun Olive Press is a replica of a press used in Roman times. It was primarily used to separate the olive pulp from the pit. The Żejtun Roman Villa comprises a residential area and a commercial-industrial area. Together, these two examples draw attention both to olive processing and to the different areas of use within a Roman villa.
Festivals, Holy Week and olive oil
The feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. Holy Week in Żejtun includes religious traditions and a planned walking route through all the churches that are open. A digital guide documents the route of the Good Friday procession. If you want to plan your stay around Holy Week, check the specific program dates in advance so you can time your trip to coincide with the scheduled events.
Żejt iż-Żejtun focuses on pressing olives to make olive oil. Maltese bread spread with freshly pressed olive oil is also handed out for free tasting. This connects a local food with the subject of olive processing, while describing two different experiences: one concerns the journey from olive to oil, the other bread with freshly pressed oil.
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