A small Maltese village with a 17th-century parish church, prehistoric temples, and the Blue Grotto caves nearby. Local farmers still cultivate the surrounding limestone fields.
Qrendi is a village in southern Malta where you'll find the 5,600-year-old Mnajdra temple, with its precise astronomical alignments, and the nearby Ħaġar Qim complex. You can explore the 150-foot-wide Il-Maqluba sinkhole, take a boat to the Blue Grotto's luminescent waters, or walk past the baroque Parish Church during one of the village's summer festas.
Exploring the Neolithic Temples
The Mnajdra and Ħaġar Qim temples were built around 3600 BC. The South Temple at Mnajdra functions as an ancient calendar - its entrance points directly at the rising sun during solstices and equinoxes. Both temple complexes are open daily from 9:00 AM and are connected by a 500-meter walking path. From the limestone cliffs where the temples stand, you can see the Mediterranean Sea and the small island of Filfla.
Natural Formations Around Qrendi
The Il-Maqluba sinkhole, which appeared during a storm in 1343, measures 50 feet deep. This protected area contains several species of native plants, including the Maltese Salt Tree. At Wied iż-Żurrieq harbor, boats depart regularly to the Blue Grotto, a series of sea caves where sunlight reflects off the white sandy bottom through the clear water.
Village Life and Traditions
The village celebrates two main festas: Our Lady of Lourdes in late June or early July, and Santa Maria in August. During these days, Saint Mary's Band and Lourdes Band play music in the streets. Each band club runs its own fireworks factory, creating displays for Qrendi's celebrations and other Maltese villages.
Churches and Towers
The Parish Church, built in 1720 by architect Lorenzo Gafà , stands in the village center. Its baroque design shares similarities with Gafà 's other work, the Mdina Cathedral. Three 17th-century defensive towers - Cavalier, Sciuta, and Ħamrija - line the coast. The Santa Katerina windmill, constructed during the Knights of St. John era, still has its original grinding mechanisms.
Getting Around
Buses 72, 117, and 118 stop in Qrendi. The village has one small grocery store and a few local bars. You can walk between the seven churches and chapels scattered through the narrow limestone streets, each with its own architectural details and history.
