Balzan

For other uses, see Balzan (disambiguation).

Balzan Ħal Balzan Casal Balzano
Local council
Balzan Parish Church Balzan Parish Church
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Hortibus undique septa
250px
Coordinates:
Country	Malta
Region	Central Region
District	Western District
Established	1419–1420
Borders	Attard, Birkirkara, Iklin, Lija
Government
• Mayor	Dr. Ian Spiteri (PN)
Area
• Total	0.6 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Elevation	56 m (184 ft)
Population (March 2014)
• Total	3,958
• Density	6,600/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Balzani (m), Balzanija (f), Balzanin (pl)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	BZN
Dialing code	356
ISO 3166 code	MT-02
Patron saint	Annunciation St. Valentine
Day of festa	2nd Sunday of July 14 February
Website	Official website

Three Villages of Malta
Attard - Balzan - Lija

Balzan (Maltese: Ħal Balzan) is small town 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, becoming a parish in the 17th century. As of March 2014 the town has 3,958 inhabitants.

Etymology

In Malta, many village names are identical to certain family names, as in Attard and Lija. It is believed by some, therefore, that the village inherited its name from a Sicilian family whose family name was Balzan (or Balzano). Other historians claim that 'balzan' refers to a Sicilian tax collector that could have come to Malta to collect taxes for his Sicilian feudal master. This tax collector could have resided in Balzan thus giving the village its present name.

Culture

The parish church, built in the mid-17th century, is dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady. The church is built in the form of a Latin cross, has one belfry and an elegant dome that can be seen from all around the village. The church is built on a Tuscan style from the outside and Doric on the inside. The statue used in the village feast celebrated on the 2nd week of July, is carved in wood by Salvatore Dimech (is-sarc) and shows our lady and Gabriel the Archangel. The parish also celebrates the feast of St. Valentine, which gave the name to the village radio station, Radio Valentine, which closed down officially in 2006.

As with Attard and Lija, Balzan is a sought after location and popular with the middle and upper middle classes. Its residents' political affiliation is predominantly that of the Nationalist Party (PN), a centre-right political party. Lately its population has increased due to large-scale development taking place, largely in the form of apartment blocks replacing villas and their gardens. However, this is mainly occurring on the outskirts of the village, and not the historic centre. The majority of Balzan is an Urban Conservation Area.

Balzan Community Service

• Ħal Balzan Parish Church Office, Triq Idmejda (Idmejda Road)
• Ħal Balzan Local Council, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
• Ħal Balzan Police Station, Pjazza Bertu Fenech (Robert Fenech Square)
• Ħal Balzan Health Centre, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
• Ħal Balzan Branch Post Office, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
• Ħal Balzan Malta Labour Party Club, Triq it-Tliet Knejjes (Three Churches Street)
• Ħal Balzan Nationalist Party Club, Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)

Band Clubs

• St. Gabriel Band Club (Każin Tal-Banda San Gabriel) - St. Gabriel Band Club Website
• Mary the Annunciation Philharmonic Society (Is-Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Annunzjata)

Interesting Places at Ħal Balzan

• Church of the Annunciation (Pjazza Bertu Fenech / Triq il-Kbira)
• Good Shepherd Convent (Triq l-Idmejda)
• Stella Maris College (Triq il-Kbira)
• St. Francis Convent (Triq San Frangisk)
• Wignacourt Aqueduct (Triq l-Imdina)
• The Three Churches (Triq it-Tliet Knejjes)
• Malta Hospice Movement (Vjal il-Buon Pastur)
• Fra Giuseppe Zammit Summer Residence (Behind Church)

External links

• Ħal Balzan Local Council