Lija ( mt, Ħal Lija) is a small village in the Central Region of

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

. It forms part of the

Three villages of Malta The Three Villages ( mt, It-Tliet Irħula) refers to the Maltese villages of Attard, Balzan, and Lija, which are around the centre of the island. The Three Villages are known as such because of their close proximity to one another. In some cases o ...

, along with

Attard Attard ( mt, Ħ'Attard) is a town in the Central Region of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija it forms part of " the Three Villages" and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. It has a population of 12,268 as of 2021. Attard's trad ...

and

Balzan Balzan ( mt, Ħal Balzan) is a municipality in the Central Region of Malta, one of the so-called three villages, together with Attard and Lija. The village originally consisted of a group of small dwellings and farms but eventually grew, beco ...

. Lija has a baroque

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

and seven other small chapels. The parish church is dedicated to Our Saviour. Lija became a parish in 1594, after the small community detached itself from the neighbouring town, Birkirkara. It has a population of 3,162 as of 2021.

Culture

Malta - Lija - Vjal it-Transfigurazzjoni - Belvedere 01 ies

Lija is mostly known for its

fireworks Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large number of devices ...

displays that attract thousands of locals and tourists during the festa period held in the first week of August. These displays are very well renowned and claimed to be the best around the island. The Lija fireworks team also won an international fireworks competition held in

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...

back in 1980. In 2006, the Lija fireworks factory placed second in a

Fireworks festival Fireworks are a class of Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a l ...

organised at the Grand Harbour in Malta's capital,

Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 wa ...

. Lija also hosts the

Maltese Citrus festival Maltese may refer to: * Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta * Maltese alphabet * Maltese cuisine * Maltese culture * Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people * Maltese people, people from Malta or of Malte ...

, held each year. Lija has several old houses of character and large

citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus ''Citrus'' is native to ...

gardens. The

Lija Belvedere Tower The Lija Belvedere Tower, officially Torri Belvedere, is a belvedere in Lija, Malta. It was built in the 19th century as a folly within a private garden, and it is now located on a roundabout. History The belvedere tower was built in 1857 as a ...

and Villa Francia are a main attraction. The official University Residence of the

University of Malta The University of Malta (, UM, formerly UOM) is a higher education institution in Malta. It offers undergraduate bachelor's degrees, postgraduate master's degrees and postgraduate doctorates. It is a member of the European University Association ...

is also situated in this village. Lija Athletic F.C. is the village's football club. This club has been promoted to Malta's Premier (highest) Division for three times in its history. Considering the small size of the village and the resource and financial limitations, this was deemed to be a huge success by local sport enthusiasts.

Lija Athletic Lija ( mt, Ħal Lija) is a small village in the Central Region, Malta, Central Region of Malta. It forms part of the Three villages of Malta, along with Attard and Balzan. Lija has a baroque parish church and seven other small chapels. The pari ...

, with the collaboration of the Local Council inaugurated a new synthetic pitch on 6 July 2007 (''Jum Ħal Lija'' or "

Lija Day Lija ( mt, Ħal Lija) is a small village in the Central Region of Malta. It forms part of the Three villages of Malta, along with Attard and Balzan. Lija has a baroque parish church and seven other small chapels. The parish church is dedicate ...

"). This pitch is situated in the village's primary school grounds. This year, 2009, the club is celebrating its 60th Anniversary since its foundation. British author

Anthony Burgess John Anthony Burgess Wilson, (; 25 February 1917 – 22 November 1993), who published under the name Anthony Burgess, was an English writer and composer. Although Burgess was primarily a comic writer, his dystopian satire ''A Clockwork ...

, whose works include ''

A Clockwork Orange ''A Clockwork Orange'' may refer to: * ''A Clockwork Orange'' (novel), a 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess ** ''A Clockwork Orange'' (film), a 1971 film directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel *** ''A Clockwork Orange'' (soundtrack), the film ...

'', resided in Lija for three years (1968-1970). At Lija there is also

Villa Parisio Villa Parisio is a villa in Lija, Malta. It was built in the 16th century by the Muscati family, and it eventually passed into the hands of the Parisio Muscati, de Piro and Strickland families. It is currently the seat of The Strickland Foundati ...

, where politician Mabel Strickland, daughter of Lord

Gerald Strickland Gerald Paul Joseph Cajetan Carmel Antony Martin Strickland, 6th Count della Catena, 1st Baron Strickland, (24 May 1861 – 22 August 1940) was a Maltese and British politician and peer, who served as Prime Minister of Malta, Governor of the L ...

, lived.

Lija Local Council

The current 2017 Lija local council members are: * Anthonby Dalli (Mayor, PN) * Daniel Mallia (Deputy Mayor PN) * Donio Cini (PN) * Joseph Zahra (PL) * Lorraine Farrugia (PL)

Band clubs

* St. Pius X Band and Society Club (Is-Soċjetà Mużikali Banda San Piju X)

Zones in Lija

* Ħal Mann (Mann Town) * Ta' Bajdun * Ta' Seguna (Seguna's Village) * Tad-Daħla (Entrance Village) * Tad-Daqqaq (Cotton Worker's Village) * Tal-Mirakli (Miracles' Village) * Wied Lija (Lija Valley)

Main roads

* Triq Annibale Preca * Triq Carmelo Farrugia * Triq il-Forn * Triq il-Kbira (Main Street) * Triq il-Mosta (Mosta Road) * Triq Robert Mifsud Bonnici * Triq Sant' Andrija * Triq Sant' Antnin (St Anthony Street) * Triq Sir Ugo Mifsud * Vjal it-Trasfigurazzjoni (Transfiguration Avenue) * Triq Gużeppi Portelli

References

External links

Lija Local Council

Lija Athletic F.C.

Lija Parish

6 August - Titular Feast

{{Authority control Towns in Malta Local councils of Malta