Ta' Xbiex () is a locality and Local Council in the Eastern Region of

Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...

with a population of 2,148 (estimated 2019). It is part of a small headland within the

Marsamxett Harbour Marsamxett Harbour (), historically also referred to as Marsamuscetto, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It is located to the north of the larger Grand Harbour. The harbour is generally more dedicated to leisure use than the Grand Ha ...

, right between the villages of

Msida Msida (, ) is a harbour town in the Eastern Region, Malta, Eastern Region of Malta with a population of 7,623 (2021). Location The town is located just west of Valletta on the northeast coast of Malta. The neighbouring towns of Msida are Ta' ...

and

Gżira Gżira () is a town in the Eastern Region, Malta, Eastern Region of Malta. It is located between Msida and Sliema, also bordering on Ta' Xbiex. It has a population of 11,699 as of January 2019. The word ''Gżira'' means "island" in Maltese ...

Etymology

The name Ta' Xbiex is said to have originated from it exact geographical location as it faces the rising sun. The Maltese word '''Tbexbex''' is descriptive of the sun as it rises. Others say the name might originate from word Xbiek''' meaning fishing nets as would seem appropriate from its inhabitants being able to sail and fish freely from its shores. Indeed, its coat of arms depicts a ship's wheel, further confirming its connection with the sea.

Important Buildings

Many of the beautiful houses in Ta’ Xbiex house a number of foreign embassies. The Whitehall Mansions has a prestigious address, and an example of unique Maltese architecture. The building presently houses, amongst others, embassies of

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, and the British High Commission. In the 1950s it was known as The Wrennery being the residential quarters of the Woman's Royal Naval Service (WRNS). There are also a number of service providers such as insurance companies, law firms, auditing and accounting firms. Among the original villas situated in the streets opposite the sea, one finds Villa Oxania, which belonged to the noted physician and leading archaeologist,

Sir Temi Zammit ''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as part ...

(1864-1935), and Villa Cloe, home to Sir Arturo Mercieca (1878-1969), long-time president of the Maltese Courts and a well known political leader. Both patriots died while they held residence at Ta' Xbiex.

St. John of the Cross Church

This church became a parish in 1969 and is run by the Carmelite Monks. Decorated in the Basilical and Roman style, it is known for its quite unique Crucifix which is 420 cm high and 240 cm wide. Put in place in 1971 this large steel Crucifix is based on a drawing by St. John of the Cross and may be the largest reproduction of its kind and the only silhouette cross in the world.

Yachting

For many years in the 1950s various battleships were berthed in the Msida/Ta' Xbiex creek. From the 1960s right up until today, Ta' Xbiex hosts many private boats with people from all nationalities making this location their berthing home for short as well as long stays. The Royal Malta Yacht Club, sits proudly on the Ta' Xbiex seafront and plays host to the very popular Rolex Middle Sea Race. Tracing its origins back to the 1800s, this yachting club now enjoys well equipped premises and facilities on a site it renovated in 2008. It also houses a 65 berth Yacht Marina in the same location. Ta' Xbiex is also home to a 720 berth Msida and Ta' Xbiex Yacht Marina. Due to its stratic location, the marina is sought-after for its central location and the shelter afforded from the prevailing North-Westerly winds, while the breakwater protects against a North-Easterly swell. Several marine services providers are also found in the area. There are a number of restaurants along the coast that take advantage of the location, catering for the yachting community whilst also offering spectacular harbour views of the Bastions in

Valletta Valletta ( ; , ) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 Local councils of Malta, council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta’s capital ...

and

Floriana Floriana ( or ''Il-Floriana''), also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a Floriana Lines, fortified town in the Port Region, Malta, Port Region area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It has a population of 2,205 as of March 2014 ...

Sport

Ta' Xbiex forms part of a sea-side promenada that runs from Pieta all the way to St Julians. It is a very popular route for runners who enjoy a backdrop of historical bastions, seaviews as well as busy city bustle as they move into Gzira,

Sliema Sliema ( ) is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Districts of Malta#Northern Harbour District, Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. ...

and St Julians.

Local Council

The Ta' Xbiex Local Council is formed by the following: Mayor: Max Zammit Deputy Mayor: Oriana Calleja Councillors: Louise Cachia Castelletti Eugenio Muscat Rosario Portelli Executive Secretary: Yasmine Tonna

Main roads

*Triq Giuseppe Calì (Giuseppe Calì Street) *Triq Abate Rigord (Abate Rigord Street) *Triq Enrico Mizzi (Enrico Mizzi Street) *Triq il- Prinċipessa Margerita (Princess Margaret Street) *Triq il- Prinċipessa Eliżabetta (Princess Elizabeth Street) *Triq l-Ambaxxati (Embassy Road) *Triq Sir Augustus Bartolo (Sir Augustus Bartolo Street) *Triq San Ġwann tas-Salib (St. John of the Cross Street) *Triq Sir Ugo Mifsud (Sir Ugo Mifsud Street) *Triq L-Imradd *Triq Testaferrata (Testaferrata Street) *Ir-Rampa Ta' Xbiex (Ta' Xbiex Terrace) *Vjal Sir Temi Zammit (Sir Temi Zammit Avenue) *Ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex (Ta' Xbiex Coast Road) File:Whitehall mansion, Ta' Xbiex (1).jpg, No. 2, Whitehall mansion (seat of the German, Dutch and Spanish embassies to Malta) File:Villa Zimmerman, Ta' Xbiex 01.jpg, No. 4, Villa Zimmerman File:No. 4, Ir-Rampa Ta'Xbiex.jpg, No. 4 File:Greek Embassy, Ta' Xbiex.jpg, No. 6, Greek Embassy File:No. 8, Ir-Rampa Ta'Xbiex.jpg, No. 8 File:No. 10, Ir-Rampa Ta'Xbiex.jpg, No. 10 File:No. 12, Ir-Rampa Ta'Xbiex.jpg, No. 12 File:No. 14, Ir-Rampa Ta'Xbiex.jpg, No. 14 File:Villa Bel Air, Ta' Xbiex (3).jpg, No. 16, Villa Bel Air, Italian Ambassador's Residence File:Malta - Ta' Xbiex - Ir-Rampa Ta' Xbiex-Triq Mons. Alfredo Mifsud 02 ies.jpg, No. 18, Villa Trafalgar File:Villa Sunshine, Ta' Xbiex 03.jpg, No. 22, Villa Sunshine, by arch. Mario Meneghello (1962–64) File:No. 30, Ir-Rampa Ta'Xbiex.jpg, No. 30 File:Vincenti Buildings, Ta' Xbiex (1).jpg, No. 31-32, Vincenti Buildings by Gustavo R. Vincenti File:No. 34, Ir-Rampa Ta' Xbiex.jpg, No. 34 (Art Deco details) File:No. 38, Ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex (Villa Torregiani).jpg, No. 38, Villa Torregiani File:No. 40, Ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex.jpg, No. 40 File:No. 42, Ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex.jpg, No. 42 File:No. 51, ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex (The Vines) 01.jpg, No. 51, Villa ''The Vines'' File:No. 54, ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex (Villa Gloria).jpg, No. 54, Villa Gloria by Alberto La Ferla in Stile Littorio"Villa Gloria in Ta' Xbiex also manifests influence of the Stile Littorio idiom. From a distance the villa looks much like the other villas surrounding it. However, a closer and critical inspection reveals an astute illusion. The columns along the façade are similar to a ''fascio''... Having been built in the 1930s it is at least tempting to consider the possibility that the ''fascio'' was not an accidental inclusion, but an intentional design element of these peculiar columns." File:No. 55, ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex (Villa Ebe) 01.jpg, No. 55, Villa Ebe File:Malta - Ta' Xbiex - ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex - Royal Malta Yacht Club 02.jpg, Royal Malta Yacht Club - Ta' Xbiex Marina No._6,_Vjal_Sir_Temi_Zammit,_Ta'_Xbiex.jpg, No. 6, Vjal Sir Temi Zammit No. 4 Triq Sir Augustus Bartolo, Ta' Xbiex.jpg, No. 4 Triq Sir Augustus Bartolo

References

External links

Ta' Xbiex Local Council

St John of the Cross Parish Church
{{Authority control Towns in Malta Local councils of Malta