Xemxija Heritage Trail

Xemxija Heritage Trail

A small Maltese heritage trail can be found in easy walking distance North-West of St. Pauls Bay. It is a nice little walk starting along a track marking an ancient Roman road, which is dated back to the first century AD. It is called Xemxija Trail after the Maltese word for light and leads into a reforestation of olive, pine and wattle trees which have been planed in the last century to help restoring the water table. It is amazing that these trees survive here. But they do quite well. At the entrance of the trail you find Roman Aperies, which are cave like structures in which bees were kept for production of honey. You also will see Punic tombs, grain storages in the limestone and Neolithic burial sites after crossing the pilgrimage way used to Mellieha. Some of the caves have been used recently and you still see the fire places. Many of them have served as shelter during World War II. Some of the abandoned farm houses have been rebuilt with original stones. This is a very nice and easy walk, for those who are not into the amusements of St. Pauls Bay. And it is easy to reach with public transport (if anything is easy to reach by public transport in Malta).

Roman Aperies, in which bees were kept and honey produced.

Roman Aperies, in which bees were kept and honey produced.

Pilgrimage way to Mellieha.

Pilgrimage way to Mellieha.

Lamp or candle holder in an abandoned farm house.

Lamp or candle holder in an abandoned farm house.

Burial site

Burial site

Thousand year old carob tree.

Thousand year old carob tree.