The Maltese Islands are brimming with history, mystery and narrative. Some of the places are pretty popular and yet time has turned them into mundane sites. Others are known by the few and therefore they are unfamiliar and unvalued. A number of sites are located on private grounds and so they remain distant and elusive.

Bizarre Malta, by Fiona Vella and Oliver Gatt (BDL Publishing)

This is why Oliver Gatt came out with the idea of collecting a number of these interesting spots and present them in an intriguing book to inspire and provoke readers to know more about them or to go out and look for them. I was entrusted to join him in this endeavour which eventually developed into a fantastic journey of exploration of the most exciting corners of our islands.

Interestingly, some of the selected places are plainly in sight. We drive past them regularly and possibly never even notice them or just take them for granted.

Two such examples are dwellings found in Żabbar. One has a large niche dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes built right into its facade, while its top floor is embellished with intricate architecture and a turret on each corner. The other building has a mutilated facade with a historical French artillery cannonball still stuck into it.

Folly architecture is designed to attract attention and awe. Yet the demise of their owners tends to render such structures irrelevant or simply misunderstood. Villa Mystique in Madliena is anything but standard. In fact, while at first hand many might believe that this building is just a ruin, in reality this villa was constructed in a haphazard way just for the ecstatic feeling of originality.

Similarly, Id-Dar tal-Bebbux (The House of Snails) which is found in Għaxaq, was decorated late in the 19th century with a multitude of seashells that form intricate shapes and patterns.

The uniqueness of such buildings have often led to the deliberation of whether they should be considered for scheduling by the Planning Authority in order to protect and preserve them. However this has not materialised so far.

Chilling and horrifying places could change considerably over time. Nevertheless the shocking nature of some of them will continue to strike fear into anyone who dares to visit them. Even though the corpses of mummified friars no longer hang in the niches of the Capuchin’s Crypt in Floriana, their eerie presence is somehow still felt, especially when one comes face to face with the frightening replica of a mummified friar or with the actual gaping mummy of Fra Crispin Zammit which is believed to be miraculous.

Dar tal-Bebbux in Għaxaq. Photo courtesy of Roderick Vella and Stephen Buhagiar, The People of Malta

Turret of Lourdes House. Photo: Oliver Gatt

Correspondingly, although today silence and tranquillity reign in Wied Għammieq cemetery in Kalkara, the knowledge that it originally served to bury those who died during the cholera epidemic of 1837 makes it somewhat creepy. This place is rendered even more intimidating through old rumours which narrate that some people were mistakenly buried alive in this cemetery due to the frenzy of the numerous burials at the time. The cries of these unfortunate ones are said to have been heard coming out of the earth by passers by.

Mysterious sites have an inherent ability to appeal to a wider audience. Yet somehow, some of them remain relatively unknown or simply undealt with. A case in point took place in 1969 when three secret passageways filled with human bones were accidentally discovered at the old church of St Gregory in Żejtun. Very few people have ever visited this historical place and no conclusive studies are available about the existence of these passages and the presence of human remains.

Another baffling site is located at the limits of Żabbar and is known as Iċ-Ċirku tal-Bidni. Both because of the remoteness of the area and since it is in private property, the place has rarely been seen and there is only scant information available about it. It is not known whether the circular feature was geographically created or man-made, however the surrounding landscape has presented several interesting archaeological discoveries.

Some old buildings have captivating stories to tell

Some old buildings have captivating stories to tell about the past local society and culture. An old hospital in Rabat, Malta, which now serves as the National Archives of Malta, still preserves a feature which was originally known as ‘La Ruota’ (the wheel). This was a revolving contraption that made it possible for unwanted babies to be left anonymously at this place in order to be cared for by the authorities. Similarly, a door of the Convent of the Franciscan Friars Minor leading onto St Ursola Street in Valletta, is a grim reminder of a tragic day in 1823 which saw the death of more than 100 children. These poor souls were killed during a stampede that took place after the celebrations of carnival.

Local natural sites also have their share of narrative on these islands. The Dwejra area in San Lawrenz, Gozo, is imbued with splendid natural beauty but also with various interesting stories. One example is the plant, known as the General’s Root, that grows at the top of a huge rock which is renowned as Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral (the General’s rock).

Back to the 17th century, due to the popularity and significance of this plant which was deemed to be able to cure all ills, strict measures were taken to prohibit people from removing any. These included the construction of the Dwejra Tower from where the rock could be guarded and also the smoothening of the rock’s sides to eliminate footholds. In contrast to Dwejra, the subterranean cavern of Ħarq Ħammiem at St George’s Bay in St Julian’s lies hidden away from curious eyes. Indeed, since the place is isolated and in the confines of private property, not many people have ever set foot within it and less individuals have ever heard about it.

Things somehow changed when the recent extensive regeneration of Paceville was communicated and people came to know of the existence of this cavern.

Several attempts to reach the bottom of this cavern which leads to underwater channels have proven futile due to their extent. Till now, expert divers have reached the depth of 52 metres below sea level. The cavern has been scheduled at Grade 1 by the Planning Authority. Hopefully, it will not be impacted by new developments in the vicinity.

The book Bizarre Malta explores these themes and many others. Each story invites the readers to be curious about the Maltese Islands and to appreciate the deep narrative which they are endowed with.

Bizarre Malta is available from Book Distributors Ltd at 13, Giorgio Preca Street, San Ġwann and from all leading bookshops, stationers and souvenir shops. For more information, contact Book Distributors Ltd on 2138 0351 or www.bdlbooks.com.

Read the full version of this article in the June issue of Senior Times.

An aerial view of Villa Mystique in Madliena. Photo: Oliver Gatt

Lourdes House in Żabbar. Photo: Oliver Gatt