Plizio Visual Lab

Żabbar

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

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Practical info — Żabbar

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

Admire the Hompesch Arch at the entrance of the town; it was built in 1801 to honor the village's elevation to city status by Grand Master Hompesch.
Visit the Sanctuary Museum, which houses an impressive collection of ex-voto paintings left by Maltese sailors as thanks for surviving at sea.
Plan your visit in September during the feast to witness the famous bicycle and motorcycle pilgrimage, a unique event in Malta.
Wander through the narrow streets behind the Parish Church to see traditional architecture and the religious statues on house corners.
Avoid the main roads during morning and late afternoon rush hours, as Żabbar is a major traffic hub for the southern region.

🍽 Food

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Imqaret (Date Cakes)

Buy these deep-fried date-filled pastries from small street stalls in the center; they are a local favorite.

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Ross il-forn (Baked Rice)

A hearty local dish often sold in traditional bakeries (Bandu) as a takeaway lunch option.

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Traditional Maltese Bread

Żabbar is famous for its old stone-oven bakeries; pick up a fresh crusty loaf early in the morning.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

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Weekly Street Market

Usually held in the mornings, offering everything from local produce to textiles at bargain prices.

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Main Street Bakeries

The best place to buy traditional sweets like Honey Rings (Qagħaq tal-Għasel) or seasonal treats.

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Local Grocery Stores

Small corner shops often stock home-preserved capers and traditional Maltese sheep cheese (Gbejniet).

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Mediatrix Place

A calm square in front of the church, excellent for watching village life from a peaceful bench.

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Sanctuary Church Interior

The grand church provides a cool and completely silent escape from the busy streets outside.

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Rural Outskirts

A walk towards Marsaskala leads through quiet fields and past ancient wayside chapels.

Żabbar, also known by its title Città Hompesch, is one of the largest residential towns in Malta's Southern Region. Formerly a hamlet within the limits of Zejtun, it became a separate parish in 1615 and was eventually granted city status by Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch in September 1797. To celebrate this elevation, the local community commissioned the Hompesch Gate, a neoclassical triumphal arch that remains a prominent symbol of the city. The town is famous for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces, a majestic Baroque church housing a collection of maritime ex-voto paintings and artifacts in its adjacent museum. Historically, the residents played a crucial role during the Maltese blockade against the French in the late 18th century. Modern Żabbar is characterized by its animated community life and the annual village feast in September, which features a distinctive pilgrimage for cyclists and motorcyclists that is famous across the islands.

Location: Malta
Top sights: Bieb is-Sultan · Hompesch Arch · Iċ-Ċirku
Nearby: Tigné Point (4 km)
Population: ~15.648

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is May–Jul.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	15	14	15	16	19	23	26	27	25	23	20	16
Rain mm	74	65	51	33	17	11	4	10	63	82	95	82

Geography

Population

15,648

Coordinates

35.87690, 14.53250

Facts

The title of Città Hompesch was granted by the Grand Master on September 14, 1797.
The Hompesch Gate is a neoclassical arch built to commemorate the city's title.
The Sanctuary Museum holds one of the largest collections of maritime ex-votos in Malta.
A Vulcan bomber crashed in a residential area of Żabbar in 1975.
Żabbar is the fourth largest locality in Malta by population as of 2021.
The town holds a unique pilgrimage for bicycles and motorcycles every September.