Attard (Maltese: Ħ'Attard) is a town in the Central Region of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija it forms part of "the Three Villages" and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. It has a population of 12,268 as of 2021.[2] Attard's traditional Latin motto is Florigera rosis halo ("I perfume the air with my blossoms") due to its many flower gardens and citrus orchards. Attard is abundant with public gardens. The inhabitants of Attard are known as saraċini.
The name of 'Attard' is thought to have been derived from a surname assumed to belong to the first person who lived there. It is unclear what the word 'Attard' means. Some say it means blossoms as the word 'Attar' means fresh oil of the flowers or from the Arabic 'Atr' meaning perfume.
Another derivation for the surname is the Italian town of "Atti" in Bologna.[3]
Municipality
Casa Bonavita, historic 18th-century house in Attard, Malta. Scheduled and cultural property.
As a municipality with its own local government structure since 1994, Attard covers a surface area of about seven square kilometers. Its population, including the modern estate of Misraħ Kola and surrounding environs, is around 10,000. It comprises to its North, facing the city of Mdina, the flat expanse called Ta' Qali. Beneath it the area known as Tal-Idward joins with Misraħ Kola, across from Wied San Martin (St Martin's Valley), Wied Inċita (Valley of Instigation) and Wied Irmiedi (Valley of Ashes), on the Żebbuġ side.[4]
Its western front is bordered by Wied is-Sewda (Black Valley), on the Qormi side. To its East, up to Tal-Mirakli (of the Miracles) chapel on the Lija side, is a large zone called Ta' Fġieni bordering the village core and the 17th Century Parish Church of St. Mary at its centre, built by architect Tommaso Dingli. Dingli, born and bred in Attard, is best known for his work on the Wignacourt Aqueduct, Porta Reale (the entrance into Valletta) and several churches. Of these, only Attard's parish church (with its idiosyncratic façade) and the old parish church of Birkirkara remain unaltered. South of the village core is the Sant'Anton Quarter, named for San Anton Palace and the palace's botanic gardens, both built by the Knights between around 1600 and 1625. It is now the official residence of the President of Malta and has long been a symbol of Attard.[4]
Zones in Attard
Misraħ Kola
Hal-Warda
Ta' Qali
Robbu Tal-Ħemsija
Ta' Ħemsija
Ta' Qali Crafts Village
Ta' Sagħat
Ta' Vnezja
Tal-Madliena
Tal-Madonna
Tal-Maltija
Ta' Qassati
Il-Ħotob
Il-Ħofor
Santa Katerina
Ta' Fġieni
Ta' l-Idward
Ta' Srina
Ta' Vestru
Tal-Fuklar
Tal-Karri
Tal-Mirakli
Wied il-Ħemsija
Wied Inċita
Wied is-Sewda
Development
A vernacular 17th-century farmhouse in Attard[5][6][7]
During the 1980s Attard experienced a boost in development, reflected in the large-scale construction surrounding the village center. However the area surrounding the church and the Sant'Anton Quarter feature a number of converted farmhouses (recognizable through their wooden doors and flat, rustic roofs) and residences built by the Knights of St John, surrounding the summer palace. Attard is also the location of the St Catherine Nursing Home, one of the largest in the Maltese Islands. The Attard Primary School serves as a polling station during elections and like all other localities in Malta, Attard Local Council elections are held every three years.[4]
An increase in entertainment and commercial enterprise has seen development along Triq il-Pitkalija (Pitkalija Road) and nearby the village center, with various retail outlets catering to the village all within walking distance of St Mary's Parish Church. The village center is a hive of activity, especially on Sundays when residents of Attard mingle with fellow churchgoers.[4]
Attard celebrates the feast of the Assumption of Mary on 15 August. The 15 August is a national holiday on the Maltese islands.[4]
Clubs and societies
The Malta Amateur Radio League club house is situated in Attard and is the representative body for amateur radio in Malta. Since MARL was established in 1922, its aim was to bring together people interested in amateur radio/electronics and discuss and defend amateur radio matters with the local authorities. It provides educational facilities for members with interest in amateur radio/electronics and also an equipped amateur radio station. MARL corresponds and expresses its ideas with local and foreign same-interest groups, providing its members the facilities of a two-way QSL Bureau as well as financing and maintaining VHF & Analog televisionrepeaters and beacons.[4]
The musical society of La Stella Levantina (Eastern Star) is the first of its kind in the village (formed in 1894). It organizes the major activities of the village feast held during 11–15 August, including band marches and feast decorations. It teaches music (at no cost) in its local club, situated in the center of the village.[4]
Notable residents
The President's official residence, San Anton Palace, is situated in Attard. Within walking distance of the President's residence is the official residence of the United States Ambassador to Malta. The Tunisian embassy to Malta is located in Attard.[4]
Governor Borton opened the botanic gardens to the public in 1882 for picnics and strolls. Fairs and competitions celebrating plants, flowers, animals and livestock take place there. A dramatic company used to put on a Shakespeare Festival every summer, and there are often music recitals.
^"The Malta Government Gazette" (PDF). 3 September 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
^"Census of Population and Housing 2021: Preliminary Report". nso.gov.mt. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
^"Surname Database: Attard Last Name Origin". The Internet Surname Database. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
^ abcdefghijFrendo, Henry (1997). (PDF). 6, Main Street, Attard: Attard Local Council (Gutenberg Press). pp. 1–71. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^Zammit Lupi, Darrin (24 February 2016). "House Hunting in ... Malta: A 17th-Century Farmhouse in Malta". New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
^"House of Character in Attard for Sale ref 19241 - Selective Quality Letting Ltd". from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
^. homes-malta.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
^"Twinning". localgovernment.gov.mt. Government of Malta. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Attard.
Attard Local Council
Attard Parish
May 05, 2023
attard, surname, surname, maltese, town, central, region, malta, together, with, balzan, lija, forms, part, three, villages, been, inhabited, since, classical, period, population, 2021, traditional, latin, motto, florigera, rosis, halo, perfume, with, blossoms. For the surname see Attard surname Attard Maltese Ħ Attard is a town in the Central Region of Malta Together with Balzan and Lija it forms part of the Three Villages and has been inhabited since the Classical Period It has a population of 12 268 as of 2021 2 Attard s traditional Latin motto is Florigera rosis halo I perfume the air with my blossoms due to its many flower gardens and citrus orchards Attard is abundant with public gardens The inhabitants of Attard are known as saraċini Attard Ħ AttardCasal AttardLocal councilParish Church of St Mary AttardFlagCoat of armsMotto s Florigera rosis halo I perfume the air with my blossoms Coordinates 35 53 34 N 14 26 18 E 35 89278 N 14 43833 E 35 89278 14 43833 Coordinates 35 53 34 N 14 26 18 E 35 89278 N 14 43833 E 35 89278 14 43833Country MaltaRegionCentral RegionDistrictWestern DistrictBordersBalzan Lija Mdina Mosta Mtarfa Zebbuġ QormiGovernment MayorStefan Cordina PN Area Total6 6 km2 2 5 sq mi Population January 2019 Total11 377 1 DemonymSaraċiniTime zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST Postal codeATDDialing code356ISO 3166 codeMT 01Patron saintAssumption of MaryDay of festa15 AugustWebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Etymology 2 Municipality 3 Zones in Attard 4 Development 5 Clubs and societies 6 Notable residents 6 1 San Anton Palace 7 Sport 8 Twin towns sister cities 9 References 10 External linksEtymology EditThe name of Attard is thought to have been derived from a surname assumed to belong to the first person who lived there It is unclear what the word Attard means Some say it means blossoms as the word Attar means fresh oil of the flowers or from the Arabic Atr meaning perfume Another derivation for the surname is the Italian town of Atti in Bologna 3 Municipality Edit Casa Bonavita historic 18th century house in Attard Malta Scheduled and cultural property As a municipality with its own local government structure since 1994 Attard covers a surface area of about seven square kilometers Its population including the modern estate of Misraħ Kola and surrounding environs is around 10 000 It comprises to its North facing the city of Mdina the flat expanse called Ta Qali Beneath it the area known as Tal Idward joins with Misraħ Kola across from Wied San Martin St Martin s Valley Wied Inċita Valley of Instigation and Wied Irmiedi Valley of Ashes on the Zebbuġ side 4 Its western front is bordered by Wied is Sewda Black Valley on the Qormi side To its East up to Tal Mirakli of the Miracles chapel on the Lija side is a large zone called Ta Fġieni bordering the village core and the 17th Century Parish Church of St Mary at its centre built by architect Tommaso Dingli Dingli born and bred in Attard is best known for his work on the Wignacourt Aqueduct Porta Reale the entrance into Valletta and several churches Of these only Attard s parish church with its idiosyncratic facade and the old parish church of Birkirkara remain unaltered South of the village core is the Sant Anton Quarter named for San Anton Palace and the palace s botanic gardens both built by the Knights between around 1600 and 1625 It is now the official residence of the President of Malta and has long been a symbol of Attard 4 Zones in Attard EditMisraħ Kola Hal Warda Ta Qali Robbu Tal Ħemsija Ta Ħemsija Ta Qali Crafts Village Ta Sagħat Ta Vnezja Tal Madliena Tal Madonna Tal Maltija Ta Qassati Il Ħotob Il Ħofor Santa Katerina Ta Fġieni Ta l Idward Ta Srina Ta Vestru Tal Fuklar Tal Karri Tal Mirakli Wied il Ħemsija Wied Inċita Wied is SewdaDevelopment Edit A vernacular 17th century farmhouse in Attard 5 6 7 During the 1980s Attard experienced a boost in development reflected in the large scale construction surrounding the village center However the area surrounding the church and the Sant Anton Quarter feature a number of converted farmhouses recognizable through their wooden doors and flat rustic roofs and residences built by the Knights of St John surrounding the summer palace Attard is also the location of the St Catherine Nursing Home one of the largest in the Maltese Islands The Attard Primary School serves as a polling station during elections and like all other localities in Malta Attard Local Council elections are held every three years 4 An increase in entertainment and commercial enterprise has seen development along Triq il Pitkalija Pitkalija Road and nearby the village center with various retail outlets catering to the village all within walking distance of St Mary s Parish Church The village center is a hive of activity especially on Sundays when residents of Attard mingle with fellow churchgoers 4 Attard celebrates the feast of the Assumption of Mary on 15 August The 15 August is a national holiday on the Maltese islands 4 Clubs and societies EditThe Malta Amateur Radio League club house is situated in Attard and is the representative body for amateur radio in Malta Since MARL was established in 1922 its aim was to bring together people interested in amateur radio electronics and discuss and defend amateur radio matters with the local authorities It provides educational facilities for members with interest in amateur radio electronics and also an equipped amateur radio station MARL corresponds and expresses its ideas with local and foreign same interest groups providing its members the facilities of a two way QSL Bureau as well as financing and maintaining VHF amp Analog television repeaters and beacons 4 The musical society of La Stella Levantina Eastern Star is the first of its kind in the village formed in 1894 It organizes the major activities of the village feast held during 11 15 August including band marches and feast decorations It teaches music at no cost in its local club situated in the center of the village 4 Notable residents EditThe President s official residence San Anton Palace is situated in Attard Within walking distance of the President s residence is the official residence of the United States Ambassador to Malta The Tunisian embassy to Malta is located in Attard 4 Gerald Strickland was also a resident of Attard at Villa Bologna 4 Attard is also home to Archbishop Paul Cremona and Tiffany Pisani the winner of Britain s Next Top Model season 6 San Anton Palace Edit Main article San Anton Palace Visitors to the palace have included the Grand Masters of the Order of St John Queen Marie of Romania the Russian Empress Marie Feodorovna King Edward VII Queen Elizabeth II Napoleon s younger brother Louis Bonaparte as a prisoner and the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge citation needed Governor Borton opened the botanic gardens to the public in 1882 for picnics and strolls Fairs and competitions celebrating plants flowers animals and livestock take place there A dramatic company used to put on a Shakespeare Festival every summer and there are often music recitals During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2005 hosted by Malta the President s Palace in Attard served as a residence for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Sport EditAttard is the home of Attard F C 4 currently competing in Maltese Challenge League second tier Twin towns sister cities EditSee also List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta Attard is twinned with 8 Elancourt France Pieve Emanuele ItalyReferences Edit The Malta Government Gazette PDF 3 September 2019 Retrieved 2 October 2019 Census of Population and Housing 2021 Preliminary Report nso gov mt Retrieved 7 December 2022 Surname Database Attard Last Name Origin The Internet Surname Database Retrieved 14 April 2018 a b c d e f g h i j Frendo Henry 1997 Attard The Life of a Maltese Casale PDF 6 Main Street Attard Attard Local Council Gutenberg Press pp 1 71 Archived from the original PDF on 25 March 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint location link Zammit Lupi Darrin 24 February 2016 House Hunting in Malta A 17th Century Farmhouse in Malta New York Times Retrieved 31 March 2017 House of Character in Attard for Sale ref 19241 Selective Quality Letting Ltd Archived from the original on 15 March 2018 Retrieved 15 March 2018 House of Character for Sale in Attard homes malta com Archived from the original on 5 August 2018 Retrieved 11 January 2022 Twinning localgovernment gov mt Government of Malta Retrieved 18 September 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Attard Attard Local Council Attard Parish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Attard amp oldid 1142393343, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
