Żabbar, Malta

Welcome to Żabbar, also known as Città Hompesch, a charming city located in the South Eastern Region of Malta. With a population of approximately 15,648 as of January 2021, Żabbar is the seventh largest city in the country. Originally a part of Żejtun, Żabbar was granted the title of Città Hompesch by the last of the Grand Masters of the Order of St. John to reign in Malta, Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim. The name of the city probably derives from the Maltese word tiżbor, the process of pruning trees. Indeed, a number of families who specialised in pruning, żbir, are known to have lived in the vicinity of this village during the Middle Ages. Other possibilities of this derivation exist. Żabbar was also the surname of an important family that was known to have lived in the area. Ħaż-Żabbar could also have been a corruption of Ħas-Sabbar (the consoler village) or derived from sabbara (consoler in Maltese), which would be connected to turning to Our Lady of Graces for consolation and the old chapel of Our Lady of Graces which preceded the current sanctuary. The city is very devout, particularly to Our Lady of Grace, to whom the city Sanctuary is dedicated. A vast number of paintings and other artefacts can be found in the Sanctuary Museum, most of which have VFGA in some way or other imprinted on them. This is the Latin abbreviation for Votum Fecit, Gratiam Accipit, meaning that a grace has been asked for and it had been granted due to intercession by the Madonna tal-Grazzja (Our Lady of Grace). The building of the Church of Our Lady of Graces was started in 1641 at the instigation of the Parish Priest Don Francesco Piscopo and was completed around 1718 according to the commemoration plaque of the Consecration by Bishop Vincenzo Labini in 1784. Żabbar hosts a village feast on the first Sunday after 8 September, which features a motorcycle and bicycle pilgrimage each starting from Mosta and Rabat respectively. This is done because Our Lady of Grace is the patron of cyclists. Strong competition exists between the villages two band clubs, Società Filarmonica Maria Mater Gratiæ and Għaqda Madonna Tal-Grazzja Banda San Mikiel. Another feast celebrated in Żabbar includes St. Michael the Archangel on the third Sunday after 8 September. This feast includes a solemn mass at the Zabbar Sanctuary. During the evening a brass band march is held in the town centre. The band accompanies the statue of St. Michael the Archangel. The most sensational moment during this march is when the statue of St. Michael the Archangel passes in front of the monumental statue of Our Lady of Graces, the patron of Żabbar. Żabbar is also home to several other churches, including Annunciation Church, Santa Marija Chapel, Holy Cross Church, Maria Bambina Centre, Saint Andrew, Santa Domenica Church, Our Lady of Mercy, and Our Lady of the Pillar. The city is twinned with Villabate, Italy and Eschborn, Germany. Come and discover the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine of Żabbar, Malta.