This ancient Maltese town has olive-growing roots dating to Roman times. Its limestone streets lead to two Baroque churches and traditional bakeries making ftira bread.
Żejtun, a town in southern Malta, draws you in with the grand Aedes Danielis palace and streets shaped by olive oil production and resistance against invaders. Plan your visit for late September to join the Żejt iż-Żejtun festival, where locals demonstrate olive pressing methods from Roman times. Walk down St. Gregory Street to see St. Catherine’s Parish Church, designed by Lorenzo Gafa’, who also created Mdina’s cathedral. Explore crypts beneath the church, summer villas built for the Knights of Malta’s leaders, and a wooden cross taken from French soldiers during an 18th-century revolt. The town’s history lives in its festivals, quiet neighborhoods, and Luqa Briffa Garden, where rare Mediterranean cypress trees grow around a central fountain.
St. Catherine’s Parish Church: Baroque Landmark and Local Gathering Spot
Lorenzo Gafa’ designed this church in the late 17th century, giving Żejtun a dome that rises above the surrounding buildings. Marble floors inside reflect light from high windows, illuminating altarpieces covered in gold leaf. Every June, the Feast of St. Catherine fills the streets with processions carrying statues, brass band performances, and fireworks after sunset. During Easter, locals stage a reenactment of biblical scenes on Good Friday, drawing crowds to watch the slow march through the town. Guided tours let you enter the crypts below the church, where fifteen stone arches support the structure and old burial niches line the walls.
Żejt iż-Żejtun: Annual Celebration of Olive Harvest
In late September, Żejtun’s festival focuses on olive oil, with stalls selling ftira biż-żejt—a local dish of bread topped with oil, tomatoes, and capers. Watch workers operate a replica of a Roman olive press, similar to the one found at the Carlo Diacono Junior Lyceum’s Roman Villa site. Artisans display carved olive wood items, from bowls to religious figures, while musicians play traditional Maltese folk songs. The event ends with a public tasting of oils pressed from olives grown in fields near the town. This festival keeps alive practices older than the Knights of St. John’s rule in Malta.
Aedes Danielis Palace and the Steep Gwiedi Streets
Aedes Danielis palace stands at Żejtun’s entrance, its Baroque facade decorated with detailed balconies and a coat of arms above the main door. Connected to the palace is the Mater Boni Consigli Chapel, which holds 18th-century frescoes visible by appointment. Walk up St. Lucian and St. Angelo Streets, known locally as Gwiedi due to their sharp incline, to see townhouses with bright blue or green doors and carved stone frames. One standout is the Summer House of Grand Master Perellos on St. Catherine Street, a small villa with a walled garden hidden from the street. These buildings were once retreats for Maltese nobles seeking quiet away from Valletta.
Memorials of Conflict: Air Raid Victims and the French Occupation
A marble monument near the parish church lists 27 residents killed in a World War II air raid on May 9, 1942. Nearby, the Is-Salib cross in the main square was seized from French troops during a revolt against their occupation in the late 1700s. An olive tree and a decommissioned cannon stand beside the cross, placed there to represent peace achieved through discussion. These sites remind visitors of Żejtun’s role in Malta’s fights for self-rule, from Napoleon’s era to the 20th century.
Ancient Olive Presses and the Ħerba Neighborhood
The Roman Villa at Carlo Diacono Junior Lyceum contains a well-preserved olive press, evidence of the area’s oil production during Roman rule. Archaeologists think this villa supplied oil to ports across the Mediterranean. Nearby, the Ħerba neighborhood’s tight alleys and thick limestone walls hint at a time when pirate raids were common. Some houses here still have hidden tunnels used as escape routes during attacks. The name Ħerba, meaning “destruction,” likely refers to these violent periods. Today, the area’s quiet streets and arched doorways make it ideal for slow exploration.
Luqa Briffa Garden and Historic St. Gregory Street
Luqa Briffa Garden provides shade under Mediterranean cypress and Aleppo pine trees, with benches arranged around a fountain. A small kiosk here serves coffee to locals in the mornings. From the garden, follow St. Gregory Street past Baroque-era homes to St. Catherine’s Old Church, built as a watchtower in the 1400s. The church faces southeast, a strategic choice to watch for invaders approaching from the coast. Its basement still has tunnels once used for storage or escape. The street’s combination of houses and religious buildings shows how Żejtun grew from a defensive outpost into a permanent town.
Planning Your Visit to Żejtun
Begin exploring before 10 a.m. to avoid the strongest sun, particularly if climbing the Gwiedi streets. Buses from Valletta (route 82) and Marsaxlokk (route 85) stop near Aedes Danielis palace, making day trips easy. Wear shoes with good grip for the uneven limestone pavements in older areas like Ħerba. The Żejtun Parish Museum opens on weekday mornings, displaying silver chalices, 16th-century paintings, and documents about the town’s past. Bring a water bottle in summer, as shaded areas are scarce outside gardens and churches.
