Żejtun Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Żejtun

Iż-Żejtun

Città Beland, Casal Santa Catarina;
Bisqallin; Casal Bisbut

City and Local council

Aerial view of Żejtun with the parish church at the centre

Flag	Coat of arms

Motto(s):

Palladis clara munera

Country

Malta

Region

South Eastern Region

District

South Eastern District

Borders

Fgura, Għaxaq, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Santa Luċija, Tarxien, Żabbar

Area

• Total

7.4 km² (2.9 sq mi)

Elevation

60 m (200 ft)

Population

(March 2014)

• Total

11,508

• Density

1,555/km² (4,028/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Żejtuni (m), Żejtunija (f), Żwieten (pl)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

ZTN

Dialing code

356

ISO 3166 code

MT-67

Patron saint

St. Catherine of Alexandria

Day of festa

Third week of June

Żejtun (pronounced ZAY-toon) is a lively city located in the South Eastern Region of Malta. It's home to about 11,500 people, based on numbers from March 2014. Żejtun is also known by its special title, Città Beland. Long ago, it was called Casal Santa Caterina.

Exploring Żejtun

Żejtun is a city with a rich history and beautiful sights. It's a great place to learn about Malta's past and see how people live today.

What's in a Name?

The name Żejtun comes from an Arabic word meaning "olive." This tells us that olive trees were very important here a long time ago. The city's motto, Palladis clara munera, means "The clear gifts of Pallas." Pallas is another name for the Greek goddess Athena, who was linked to olives and wisdom.

Location and Neighbors

Żejtun is in the southeastern part of Malta. It shares its borders with several other towns. These include Fgura, Għaxaq, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Santa Luċija, Tarxien, and Żabbar. The city is about 60 meters above sea level.

How the City is Governed

Żejtun has a local council that helps run the city. The leader of the council is called the Mayor. As of now, the Mayor is Maria Dolores Abela. She is part of the Labour Party. The council works to make Żejtun a good place to live for everyone.

Important Buildings and Places

Żejtun is known for its beautiful churches and historic buildings.

The Parish Church

The main church in Żejtun is the Parish Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It was finished in 1778 and is a very important building for the community. Its dome and interior are quite impressive.

Dome and interior view of the parish church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

The parish church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, V.M., finished in 1778.

St. Catherine's Old Church

There's also an older church dedicated to Saint Catherine, often called St Gregory's. This church has a long history, with parts completed as early as 1593.

The old Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, commonly known as St Gregory's.

The vault of the northern semitransept of Saint Catherine's Old Church, completed in 1593.

The nave of the church of St Gregory, in Żejtun.

Historic Villas and Gardens

Żejtun is home to some grand old houses, like Villa Cagliares. This beautiful country villa was built by a bishop named Baldassare Cagliares. There are also lovely green spaces, such as Luqa Briffa Garden, also known as Ġnien il-Kmand. This garden was designed by Michele Cachia.

Villa Cagliares, a baroque country villa built by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares.

Luqa Briffa Garden or Ġnien il-Kmand was designed by Michele Cachia.

Farming and Nature

Even though Żejtun is a city, it still has a lot of farmland around it. You can see fields and vineyards, showing the importance of agriculture in the area.

Farmland in Żejtun.

Vineyards in Żejtun.

Ancient History

Żejtun has been inhabited for a very long time. Evidence shows that people lived here even in Roman times. There's a complex of Roman villa ruins that tells us about life centuries ago.