Ta' Xbiex: Marina and Villa History

Ta' Xbiex is a peninsula that lies close to land on all sides. The area combines a maritime connection with a history made tangible through villas, diplomatic use, wartime, and religious institutions. If you are looking for a hotel in Ta' Xbiex, you can first consider which of these connections you want to shape your stay more: sailing at the marina or the historic sites.

Marina and sailing

The Royal Malta Yacht Club is located on the water in Ta’ Xbiex Marina and offers sailing courses for all experience levels. This gives the maritime focus a concrete form: when planning your trip, the marina is not the only landmark to consider; the courses offered there are another. If you would like to include sailing in your stay, check directly with the club to see which dates work for your trip. The courses’ focus on all experience levels helps you assess the offerings in relation to your sailing skills.

Waterfront promenade and villas

The Ix-Xatt ta’ Ta’ Xbiex waterfront promenade runs around a hill, from which stately villas overlook Marsamxett Harbour. Three specific elements come together here: the shoreline, the hill, and the villas overlooking the harbour. The marina adds a practical connection to sailing, while the promenade and villas highlight the architectural character of the waterfront landscape. Visitors who are more interested in architecture and the local townscape can find a different perspective here than through the yacht club’s courses. Villa “Bel Air” adds a further historical dimension to this architectural interest.

Villas and diplomatic history

The history of Villa “Bel Air” is linked to the two noble Maltese families Testaferrata and Preziosi, who began construction of the building in May 1935. In 1968, the villa was rented for Italy’s diplomatic chancellery. The chancellery was initially relocated to Villa Marpa in Ta’ Xbiex. The two villas represent different aspects of the area’s history: Bel Air is associated with the families and the building’s construction, while Villa Marpa was the initial location of the Italian chancellery. In the case of Bel Air, the dates mark two distinct milestones: 1935, the start of construction, and 1968, its rental for the diplomatic chancellery.

Other historical traces

Wartime history is also tied to specific buildings. HMS Gregale consisted of four villas on Ta’ Xbiex Terrace; Whitehall Mansions served as a base for the WRNS. The two details differ in how they relate to the buildings: the key connection for HMS Gregale is to four villas, while Whitehall Mansions served as a base. The area’s history therefore extends beyond family and diplomatic history.

The parish church of San Ġwann Tas-Salib and the priory of the Discalced Carmelites of St. Theresa are part of the area’s religious history. The Carmelites laid the foundation stone for their priory within a year. This brings together a named religious site and a specific milestone in the history of the order. The name of the parish church and the laying of the foundation stone offer two different starting points for exploring Ta’ Xbiex from a cultural and historical perspective.

Discover more destinations: Mosta, St. Julians, Xaghra, Floriana, Xlendi, Marsalforn, Marsaxlokk, Tarxien

For the broader travel overview: Malta.