User:Ivan F. Bartolo/Villages of Malta

This is a list of the towns and villages found in Malta and Gozo.

Malta

 * Ħ'Attard
 * Ta' Qali
 * Ħal Balzan
 * Il-Birgu (a.k.a. Vittoriosa)
 * Birkirkara
 * Fleur De Lys
 * Mrieħel
 * Birżebbuġa
 * Hal-Far
 * Kalafrana
 * Qajjenza
 * Bormla (a.k.a. Cospicua or Cottonera)
 * Dingli
 * Fgura
 * Il-Furjana (Floriana)
 * Ħal-Għarghur
 * Għasri
 * Għaxaq
 * Gudja
 * Gżira
 * Manoel Island
 * Il-Ħamrun
 * L-Iklin
 * L-Isla (a.k.a. Senglea)
 * Kalkara
 * Ħal Kirkop
 * Ħal Lija
 * Ħal Luqa
 * Il-Marsa
 * Marsaskala (Wied il-Għajn)
 * Marsaxlokk
 * Mdina
 * Mellieħa
 * Ċirkewwa
 * Għadira
 * Għajn Tuffieħa
 * Manikata
 * Mġarr
 * Żebbiegh
 * Mosta
 * Bidnija
 * Mqabba
 * Msida
 * Mtarfa
 * Naxxar
 * Baħar iċ-ċagħaq
 * Birguma
 * Magħtab
 * Salina
 * San Pawl tat-Tarġa
 * Raħal Ġdid (a.k.a. Paola)
 * Pembroke
 * Pieta
 * Gwardamangia
 * Qrendi
 * Rabat
 * Baħrija
 * L-Imtaħleb
 * Tal-Virtù
 * Ħal Safi
 * San Ġiljan
 * Paceville
 * San Ġwann
 * Il-Kappara
 * San Pawl il-Baħar
 * iIl-Bidnija
 * Buġibba
 * Burmarrad
 * Pwales
 * Il-Qawra
 * San Martin
 * Wardija
 * Xemxija
 * Santa Luċija
 * Siġġiewi
 * Sliema
 * Swieqi
 * Ibraġ
 * Madliena
 * Ta' Xbiex
 * Hal Tarxien
 * Valletta
 * Xgħajra
 * Żejtun
 * Żurrieq
 * Bubaqra

Gozo

 * Fontana
 * Għajnsielem
 * Għarb
 * Kemmuna
 * Kerċem
 * Munxar
 * Xlendi
 * Nadur
 * Qala
 * Rabat
 * San Lawrenz
 * Sannat
 * Xagħra
 * Xewkija
 * Żebbuġ
 * Marsalforn

Informal names or nicknames given to certain villages
Nicknames have been in common use for centuries in every society, found in more developed towns as well as in certain backwaters. This article does not discuss the nickname in general but focuses on the ancient tradition of the nicknames given to certain Maltese villages and to those that dwelt there. The most common explanations for these village nicknames is also being given.

L-Isla (Senglea)
During the Great Siege of 1565, the commander of the troops in Isla was called Ċejċu or a similar-sounding name. One day, the defending troops make a strong sortie against the enemy. Grandmaster La Vallette had enquired about this group of courageous warriors and was told they were under the command of Ċejċu. This brought about the nickname for the townfolk of Isla to be referred to as ta' Ċejċu or Ċacu.

In the town people had a tradition that whenever fowl was cooked, the plucked feathers would be placed behind their doorstep so that all would know of their good fortune. With time, the Ta' Ċaċu became a nickname synonymous with the people of Isla being boastful.

Bormla (Cospicua or Cottonera)
The townsfolk of Bormla are commonly referred to as "Ta' baħarhom" or "Ta' baħar iċ-ċwieċ". This is said to have come about with the takeover of the coast along the town shoreline by the large drydock facilities built there. This nickname today is no longer valid as the docks have been reclaimed in a regeneration project of this area.

Il-Furjana (Floriana)
Tal-kagħka or tal-Irish. Tal-kagħka came about from a small traffic island found in the town while the tal-Irish is a throwback to the time when many irish people lived in the town. It should also said to reflect the local football club's gear colours, Floriana F.C. whose colours was given by the Royal Irish Fusiliers football time in 1905.

Il-Ħamrun
The people of Hamrun as also known as tas-sikkina since they were considered to be belligerent people.

L-Imsida
People from Imsida are locally known as Tal-Ħama.

Being located in the mouth of Birkirkara Valley and other also at the confluence of other minor valleys, heavy rainfall results in flooding of the lowest parts of Imsida resulting in large temporary mud and silt deposits.,

Birżebbuġa
The people of Birżebbuġa are referred to as Ta' Wara l-Muntanji since the village of Birżebbuġa is situated in the far south of Malta in a 'fish mouth' coastal formation cut off from all other villages.

Valletta
Citizens of Valletta derive their nickname from the lion that adorns the coat of arms of the city. which was similarly derived from the coat of arms of Grandmaster La Valette. They are also known as Tal-Palestina as they are renowned for their belligerence and their loyalty to their city,