Category: Heritage

In 1915 the naval hospitals of Malta had more than 135,000 patients, both sick and wounded, mainly due to the battles of Gallipoli and Thessaloniki. In addition as from 1917 fewer hospital ships were being sent to Malta. Following this, Kalkara Naval Cemetry was established in Saint Rocco Street, and was substantialy utilised for those […]

The Bighi Cot Lift was built in a Victorian architectural style in 1903 and was used to transfer injured sailors from naval ships to the wards of the Royal Naval Hospital Bighi. Situated 25 metres above sea level, it was the second electrical lift to be installed on the Maltese Islands. Damaged during the Second […]

Cholera swept around Malta from 9th June to 9th October 1837, plundering the once Elderly Hospice in Floriana. The health authorities decided to evacuate all the hospitalized elderly into Fort Ricasoli in order to reduce the spread of this epidemic. Devastation occured, and a total of about 855 elderly were infected and succumbed to the […]

On 23rd August 1884 Fortunato Gulia donated a plot of land for the building of a new Church in Kalkara. With request approval, Can. Rev. Joseph Azzopardi, together with a committee, was delegated to accomplish this project. Architect Guglielmo Attard designed the Church in the shape of a Latin cross. The first stone was blessed […]

When the Ottomans invaded the Maltese islands in 1565, they found refuge on the hill of Our Saviour in Kalkara from where they attacked the Knights and Maltese in Vittoriosa. This battle is known as the Great Siege of Malta. Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Valette ordered the demolition of the old Church of […]