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

. Lija has a baroque parish church 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 Birkirkara (abbreviated as B'Kara) is a city in the central region of Malta. It is the second most populous on the island, with 24,356 inhabitants as of 2020. The town consists of five autonomous parishes: Saint Helen, Saint Joseph the Worker, Ou ...

. 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 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 back in 1980. In 2006, the

Lija fireworks factory 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 dedicated ...

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. 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 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 f ...

and

Villa Francia Villa Francia, initially named as Palazzo Francia, then named as Villa Preziosi, and officially known as Palazzo Francia and Francia Estate, is an 18th-century palace in Lija, Malta. The palace was built circa 1757, by Francesco Preziosi, with b ...

are a main attraction. The official University Residence of the University of Malta is also situated in this village.

Lija Athletic F.C. Lija Athletic Football Club (Commonly referred to as ''Lija Athletic'') is a football team originating from the village of Lija, Malta. The present club was founded in 1949 and has competed in the Maltese Premier League five times. During the 202 ...

is the village's

football club A football team is a group of players selected to play together in the various team sports known as football. Such teams could be selected to play in a match against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an all- ...

. 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 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 dedica ...

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

Mabel Strickland Mabel Edeline Strickland, (8 January 1899 – 29 November 1988), was an Anglo- Maltese journalist, newspaper proprietor and politician. Family and personal life Strickland was the daughter of Sir Gerald Strickland, later the 4th Prime Ministe ...

, daughter of Lord Gerald Strickland, 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