Mellieça ( ) is a large village in the Northern Region of Malta. It has a population of 11,389 as of 2019. Mellieça is also a tourist resort, popular for its sandy beaches, natural environment, and Popeye Village nearby.
The name Mellieça is derived from the Semitic root m-l-ç, which means salt. This is probably due to the ancient Punic-Roman salt pans which existed at Mellieça Bay. The site of the salt pans is now occupied by the Gçadira Nature Reserve.
The Mellieça Local Council was created in 1993 with the introduction of local government in Malta under the Local Councils Act (Act XV of 1993). The councilâÂÂs administrative area covers Mellieça and the nearby village of Manikata and forms part of MaltaâÂÂs Northern Region. The council offices are located at 126, Triq il-Mitçna l-àdida, Mellieça, MLæ 1107.
Mellieça maintains town-twinning relations with the Comune di Cavriglia (Tuscany, Italy), a partnership whose agreement dates back to the late 2000s and has been periodically renewed through cultural and youth exchanges.
Following the 2024 local elections, an arrangement between councillors led to Gabriel Micallef (PN) serving as mayor and Matthew Borg Cuschieri (independent) as deputy mayor for the 2024âÂÂ2029 term.
Mellieça was first inhabited in around 3000 BC, during the Neolithic period. Several megalithic remains have been found, including the temple of Gçajn à »ejtuna, as well as several caves and tombs, in which tools and pottery fragments were found.
During the Roman period, troglodytes began to live in the caves of Mellieça's valleys. The cave settlements continued to exist during Byzantine rule, but were abandoned in the early medieval period.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul was shipwrecked in Malta in around 60 AD, possibly in the nearby St. Paul's Bay. According to local tradition, St. Luke, who was accompanying St. Paul, came across one of Mellieça's caves and painted the figure of Our Lady on the rock face. In 409 AD, the cave was consecrated as a church, and it is now known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieça.
Mellieça was one of the first ten parishes of Malta. It still existed in 1436, but was abandoned soon afterwards in the late 15th or early 16th century, since the north of Malta was no longer safe due to raids by Muslim corsairs.
Malta was one of the first regions that Muslims entered in the Mediterranean, and this is evident in the Islamic heritage of buildings and ancient relics of mosques and homes. In addition to that the Arabic language that has remained rooted in the language of the current people of the island, this was starting from year 826 A.D. and lasted for 220 years.
During the early years of Hospitaller rule in Malta, Mellieça remained abandoned. In the late 16th century, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieça was rebuilt.
The northern coast of Malta began to be fortified in the early 17th century. The first fortification to be built in Mellieça was Saint Agatha's Tower, which was completed in 1649. This large tower was built on Marfa Ridge, overlooking Mellieça Bay, with clear views of Comino and Gozo. The smaller Gçajn æadid Tower and Armier Tower were also built in the limits of Mellieça in 1658.
A series of coastal batteries, redoubts and entrenchments were also built in Mellieça in the 18th century. Several of these still survive, such as Mistra Battery, Vendôme Battery, Wied Musa Battery and Westreme Battery. The Devil's Farmhouse found at Ta' Randa area is an example of Maltese farmhouses built in the 18th century.
Mellieça, as it is today, developed whilst Malta was under British rule. The village became a parish once again in 1844, and began to develop after the British encouraged people to settle in the area by giving leases to the population. The Parish Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built in various stages in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and, it is said that the locals helped in building the church. A postal agency opened in Mellieça in 1891.
Just before World War II, Fort Campbell was built in Selmun, whilst Mellieça Fort was built on top of Mellieça Hill as a lookout post. The British also built a number of pillboxes around the coastline of Mellieça, for defensive purposes in case of an Italian or German invasion. The Qammieh Radio Installation was built in 1938.
Mellieça has seen a lot of development since the end of the war. The Mellieça Local Council was established by the Local Councils Act of 1993.
The town of Mellieça stands on a group of hills on the northwest coast of the main island. Mellieça proper consists of the areas of Mellieça Heights, Santa Maria Estate, il-Qortin, Ta' Pennellu, Ta' Masrija and Tal-Ibraá. The nearby villages of Manikata and Selmun also fall under Mellieça's jurisdiction.
The town overlooks Mellieça Bay, which includes Gçadira Bay, the largest sandy beach in Malta. To the east of the town and bay, there is the Selmun peninsula, and St Paul's Islands lie about 80 metres off the coast. Mistra Bay lies close to Selmun, and this marks the boundary between Mellieça and St. Paul's Bay.
The large Marfa Peninsula lies to the north of Mellieça. It includes several small bays, such as Armier Bay and Paradise Bay, as well as the harbour of ÃÂirkewwa, from which the Gozo ferry departs. The Marfa Ridge spans across a large part of the peninsula.
To the south of Marfa Ridge, there are Anchor Bay and Popeye Village, Majjistral Nature and History Park, the hamlet of Manikata and Golden Bay. The boundary with Máarr lies at Gçajn Tuffieça.
Mellieça is a popular tourist destination during the summer months. It is well known for its beaches, with the most well known being Gçadira Bay and Golden Bay. ÃÂirkewwa is also popular as a dive site, and includes the wrecks of MV Rozi and the P29 patrol boat.
In 2009, Mellieça was awarded the title of European Destination of Excellence due to its sustainable initiatives.
Sailing is also a major drive for tourisum with the Euromed championships taking place between the 19th and the 22nd of December from the beach by the "Munchies" restaurant. It has both ILCA and Optimist dinghys racing and has been held every year since 2000.
Mellieça is twinned with: