Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Mellieħa

Mellieħa was one of the 10 parishes mentioned in a 1436 document but ceased soon after when the locality was no longer inhabited for fear of corsair raids.

Mellieħa became a parish again in 1844.

On September 5, 1883, the parish priest, Fr Francis Maria Magri blessed the first stone of the new church with the design attributed to Salvu Fenech. Salvu Fenech died during construction without seeing his vision realised. The church was completed by the end of the 19th century; however, the bell towers and dome were not added until the early 20th century.

The church’s façade is of locally quarried reddish stone consisting of three equally sized bays. Clustered double pilasters with composite capitals are on each end of the bays. The main portal on the central bay has an elaborate architrave with a double pediment. The lateral doors are a replica of the main portal but slightly smaller.

Laterally a wide cornice separates the two levels from which rise cluster pilasters on the level above identical to those below. In the central bay is a large window with a heavily sculptured hood mould and crown moulding. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority scheduled the parish church as a Grade 1 monument on August 26 as per Government Notice 782.