Attard
Template:Towns (Malta) Attard (or Ħ'Attard) is a village located near the centre of the island of Malta, with a population of around 10,000. Together with Balzan and Lija, it forms what is known as "The Three Villages". Attard became a parish in 1499. Notable places of interest include San Anton Palace and botanical gardens, the national stadium, national park and "Crafts Village" at Ta' Qali. Attard is the birthplace of the architect Tumas Dingli, who is best known for his work on Wignacourt's aqueduct, the "Porta Reale" entrance into Valletta, and several churches, of which only the Attard parish church, with its impressive facade, remains unaltered.
Attard is traditionally known for its flower gardens and citrus orchards, earning it the motto "Florigera rosis halo" in Latin; "I perfume the air with my blossoms" in English.
As a municipality with its own local government structure since 1994, Attard covers a surface area of about seven square kilometres. It comprises to its north, on the Mdina and Mosta side, the flat expanse known as Ta' Qali; and below it, in the direction of the village core, the area known as Ta' l-Idward joining with Misrah Kola, across from the valleys of Wied San Martin, Wied Incita and Wied Irmiedi, on the Żebbuġ side. Down to its west, close to Wied is-Sewda on the Qormi side, is an older part known as Tax-Xarolla and as Taht ir-Rahal; while to its East, up to Tal-Mirakli chapel on the Lija side, is the relatively large zone called Ta' Fgieni, which borders on the village core with its seventeenth century parish church. South of this is the Sant'Anton quarter, deriving its name from the historic palace and botanic gardens of Sant'Antonio, which have long been a symbol of Attard.
Zones in Attard
- Misraħ Kola
- Ta' Qali
- Ta' Qassati
- Il-Ħotob
- Il-Ħofor
- Wied il-Ħemsija
- Wied Inċita
- Wied is-Sewda
Attard Anthem
Ġonna li jfewħu biż-żahar tal-larin,
djar fl-isqaqien dellija,
ġawhra ta' tempju, dehra ta' ġmiel,
il-kenn ta' Omm għal dawk li bkew.
Dak li writna tul is-snin
ngħaddu 'l ta' warajna,
xhieda ħajja tal-ġrajjiet
li taw l-ogħla ġieh lil Artna.
Bnadar iperpru ma' l-arbli għoljin,
twieqi għad-dawl miftuħa,
qniepen ferrieħa, kant taż-żerniq,
u l-ħolm sabiħ taż-żmien li ġej.
Dak li writna ...
TRANSLATION:
"Gardens that are perfumed with orange blossoms,
houses in the shade of streets,
a gem like a temple, a beautiful sight,
a mother's refuge for those who wept.
What we have inherited throughout the ages,
we pass on to our children,
as witnesses of times passed,
we tell of those things that made our Land proud.
Flags flying on tall masts,
windows open to the light,
joyous bells, the song of dawn,
and beautiful dreams of days to come.
What we have inherited...."
Attard Today
During the 1980s, Attard experienced a boost in development. Most modern houses were constructed post-1980 but towards the village center, close to St. Mary's church, one will encounter quite a number of converted farmhouses, recognizable through their wooden doors and flat, rustic roofs.
The village is also abundant with many public gardens which are well maintained.
Attard has also seen an increase in entertainment locales and commercial outlets in recent years. Along Triq il-Pitkalija (Pitkalija Road), one will find a number of retail stores and furniture showrooms. Known traditionally as the "M4 Complex," close to the Church there is a business district comprising a large supermarket, a pharmacy, a toystore, a plant store, a fishmarket and further down, a newly renovated Bank of Valletta branch. The "Santa Lucia Cafeteria" is one of the most famous on the islands, serving exquisite sweets and pastries. It too is located within walking distance of St. Mary's Parish Church.
The village center is almost always bustling with activity especially on Sundays when residents of Attard (known in Maltese as Saraċeni [citation needed]) mingle with fellow churchgoers and proceed to nearby cafeterias for a pastizz and a cold kinnie.
Attard is also the location of St. Catherine Nursing Home, one of the largest in the Maltese Islands.
The Attard Primary School serves as a polling station during elections. Like all other localities in Malta, Attard Local Council elections are held every three years.
St.Mary is the patron saint of Attard. The feast is celebrated on the 15th of August every year. The 15th August is a national holiday on the Maltese islands. The parish priest is Fr. Noel Vassallo
Clubs and Societies in Ħ'Attard
The Malta Amateur Radio League club house is situated in Ħ'Attard and is the representative body for Amateur Radio in Malta. Since MARL was established in 1922, its aim was to bring together people interested in amateur radio and electronics,discuss and defend amateur radio matters and opinions with the local authorities. It provides educational facilities for members with interest in amateur radio and electronics and also an equipped amateur radio station. MARL corresponds and expresses its ideas and interests with local and foreign same-interest groups. MARL provides its members the facilities of a two-way QSL Bureau as well as financing and maintaining VHF & ATV repeaters and beacons.
The musical society of La Stella Levantina is the first and primary one of its kind in the village. It organises the major activities of the village feast held during the 11th -15th of August, Including band marches and feast decorations. It teaches music (for free) in its local club situated in the centre of the village.
Notable Residences
The President's official residence is situated in Ħ'Attard.
The American Ambassador accredited to the Republic of Malta resides in Attard. The residence is located along Triq il-Linja. The Tunisian Ambassador also resides in Attard.
93.3 Central FM Malta
The Village of Attard also houses a community radio, 93.3 Central FM, a station which transmits all over the three villages and surrounding areas. Transmitting on 93.3MHz, Central FM is a non-commercial station which serves the Attard, Lija, Balzan and the surrounding community.
The station is especially popular in the area mostly due to its informative reference through ongoing community news updates concerning the three villages and entertaining content.
The station motto is ‘Transmitting from the center of the island’ as the station serves the central localities of the island of Malta.
San Anton Gardens
Sant'Anton is not only rich in artistic and historical legacies, but as a magnet for hosting, entertainment and celebrations, even as a job-provider and an apprenticeship for Attard residents. This palace has greeted royalty too numerous to list - from Queen Marie of Romania to the Russian Empress Marie Feodorovna, from King Edward VII to Queen Elizabeth II in this century alone; it has seen the most distinguished visitors in contrasting personal situations - Napoleon's younger brother Louis Bonaparte as a prisoner, the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge as an admiring recluse.
Governor Borton opened its botanic gardens to the public in 1882 for picnics and strolls. Its shaded open courtyards today may ring with the classical music of an occasional chamber orchestra or string quintet, but the gardens regularly host extremely popular shows, fairs and competitions, from plants to flowers, to pet cats and dogs, to birds, chickens and rabbits. Every summer a dramatic company puts on a Shakespeare Festival.
During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted by Malta in November 2005, the President's Palace in Attard served as a residence for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)
The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has its headquarters in Attard. The MFSA has taken over those supervisory functions that were previously conducted by the Central Bank of Malta, the Malta Stock Exchange and the Malta Financial Services Centre and is now an important regulator for financial services. The sector incorporates all financial activity especially investment, banking and insurance.
Transport
Buses to/through Ħ'Attard: 40, 84, 80, 81
Sports
Attard is the home of Attard F.C., which currently competes in the Third Division. Although the team already consists of the promising eighteen year old Daniel Agius and a twenty year old Elon Cassar, they can also make it to the second division if youngsters star players Julien Iwueke,Roger Lee Micallef,Kurt Zahra and Andrew Agius who currently play for Attard's U/16, will be chosen for the senior team.
Attard Community Service
- St Mary Parish Church, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Attard Area Library, Tumas Dingli Primary School
- Attard Local Council, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Attard Police Station, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Attard Sub-Post Office, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Attard Malta Labour Party Club, Triq Tumas Dingli (Thomas Dingli Street)
- Attard Partit Nazzjonalista Club, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Attard Health Centre, Triq Birkirkara (B'Kara Road)
- Attard Primary School Tumas Dingli, Ħal-Warda Road
Attard Main Roads
- Triq l-Imdina (Mdina Road)
- Triq iż-Żagħfran
- Triq in-Nutar Zarb (Notary Zarb Street)
- Triq il-Belt Valletta (Valletta Road)
- Triq il-Linja (Railway Track Street)
- Triq il-Mosta (Mosta Road)
- Triq Sant' Antnon (St Anthony Street)
- Triq Santa Katarina (St Catherine Street)
- Triq il-Pitkali
- Triq Victor Vassallo (Victor Vassallo Street)
- Triq Ħal-Warda (Hal Warda Road)
- Triq Ħaż-Żebbuġ (Zebbug Road)
Attard Interesting Places
- Attard Cemetry (at Mdina Road)
- Church of the Assumption (at Church Square)
- Local Council Garden (at Triq l-Inhasa)
- Biccerija l-Qadima (at Triq Gradilja)
- Old Shooting Range (at Qormi Road)
- San Anton Palace and Gardens (at De Paule Avenue)
- St. Anne Chapel (at St. Anne Street)
- St. Catherine Hospital (at St. Catherine Street)
- St. Paul Chapel (at St. Paul Street)
- Mount Carmel Hospital (at Mdina Road)
- Europa Government Nursery (at Msina Road)
- Track of Malta Railway (at Triq il-Linja)
- Villa Bologna (at St. Anthony Street)
- Wied Incita
- Wied is-Sewda
See also
External links
- Malta Amateur Radio League
- 93.3 Central FM
- Attard Local Council
- Personal Webpage on Attard
- Malta Financial Services Authority website
- Parish of Attard
- Useful information about Attard Parish
- List of notable businesses in Attard
- Attard Scout group
- Attard Map
References
This article has been created by making reference to the following:
