St Thomas' Bay (Maltese: Id-daħla ta' San Tumas), also known as the Bay of Żejtun (Maltese: Ir-Ramla taż-Żejtun),[1][2] is a bay in southeastern Malta, located in the limits of the seaside town of Marsascala, formerly in the limits of Żejtun.
The bay takes its name from an ancient medieval chapel dedicated to St Thomas the Apostle. The exact location of the chapel cannot be ascertained, however, its location is linked to a shrine to St Thomas on the main road to Żejtun.[3][4] Historically, the bay formed part of the nearby town of Żejtun,[5] which lies immediately uphill of the inlet. The bay and Munxar point are popular with residents of Żejtun and other inland villages for swimming, hunting and bird-trapping.[6]
Some historians contend that St Thomas' Bay marks the true landfall of the Paul the Apostle following his shipwreck on Malta.[7][8] This theory is based on both geography, as well as archaeological findings of ancient Roman anchors in the bay.[8] St Thomas' Bay includes a number of fortifications, including the Grade 1 scheduled Riħama Battery at its southern end.[9] A large fortress, St Thomas tower was built at the tip of Il-Gżira ta' Wied il-Għajn in 1614 after an Ottoman fleet anchored in the bay and raided Żejtun.
The town of Marsascala developed on the northern shores of the bay, while the headland of Il-Munxar forms the southern edge of the bay. The bay contains a number of smaller inlets, some with sand, while the bay also serves as a harbour for a number of small boats.[10] In its inner creek, there are a number of boathouses.[11]
Munxar headlandEdit
In this 1681 map, the name La Serta is used to describe the stacks and reefs at the tip of Munxar Bay.In this 1748 map, the group of stacks are called La Serra, the Italian word for a saw, a tool which in Maltese is called munxar.Four sea stacks can be seen in this 1767 map by John Brekell, in his book Euroclydon: or the dangers of the sea considered and improved, in some reflections upon St. Paul's voyage and shipwreck.
Munxar headland (Maltese: Ras il-Munxar)[A] is a rock-bound peninsula on the southern edge of the bay. The headland takes its name from a number of stacks, long since eroded into submerged reefs, which used to extend into the Mediterranean sea from Munxar point. The old Italian placename for the stacks jutting out of the headland was La Serta (English: The Wreath). In other maps, the group of stacks is called La Serra, that is, 'the saw.' The Maltese word for saw is 'Munxar.' The headland is an unspoiled part of the Delimara peninsula, facing St. Thomas' Bay. It has a number of terraced fields, and commands good views of the bay from its heights. The fields are typical Maltese agricultural land, consisting of small plots.[12] The soil depth is less than two feet on average, containing mainly silty-sandy soil.[12] The plots are terraced on levels with rubble walls.[12] As Munxar lacks water supply, the site is only viable to be cultivated by winter crops like fodder. [12] Part of the promontory forms part of a designated national park,[13] and the headland is a scheduled Area of High Landscape Value.[14] Munxar headland is close to the recorded megalithic remains at Xrobb l-Għaġin, and includes a number of fortifications, including St. Paul's tower and chapel.
An abandoned gun battery used during the frenchoccupation of malta.Munxar headland today. St Thomas' Bay can be seen in the background.
In 1995, the land was proposed for development into a tourist village, but the plans were successfully resisted by residents and activists of the surrounding villages, and were shelved in 1996. [6] More recent applications were filed for an agri-tourism village and for solar farms. These were either deemed incompatible with the area or withdrawn.[14]
NotesEdit
[A].^Munxar headland should not be confused with a village in Gozo with the same name.
ReferencesEdit
^"Commission Calls for embellishment works for St Thomas Bay". The Malta Independent. 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
^"Fine Arts: St Thomas Panel Painting". Wirt iż-Żejtun. 16 April 2012. from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^Abela, Joe (June 2007). "Il-Knisja il-Qadima ta' San Tumas fir-Ramla". Iż-Żejtun.
^Debono, Carmelina (2006-05-25). "Neglected St Thomas Bay". Times of Malta. from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^ abBoissevain, Jeremy; Selwyn, Tom (2004). Contesting the foreshore. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. pp. 243–247. ISBN9053566945.
^"St Paul's Shipwreck: St Paul's Bay or St Thomas Bay?". The Malta Independent. 2010-04-25. from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^ ab"Could St Paul Have been shipwrecked in St Thomas Bay?". The Malta Independent. 2010-02-27. from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^Leone Ganado, Philip (2017-01-16). "300-year-old fortification is falling to pieces". Times of Malta. from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^Rix, Juliet (2019). Malta and Gozo. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 184. ISBN978-1784770709.
^Ameen, Juan (2011-07-12). "St Thomas Bay boathouses: Court order sparked need for action plan". Times of Malta. from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^ abcdVella, Matthew (2016-01-18). "80,000 square metre agri-tourism village proposed off Marsaskala". Malta Today. from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^"Geology and Topography of the Park". Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park. from the original on 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
^ abLeone Ganado, Philip (2018-07-30). "'Solar greenhouse' plans go dark as applicant pulls the plug". Times of Malta. from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Thomas Bay.
VisitMalta.com - Malta Beaches and Bays
August 29, 2023
thomas, maltese, daħla, tumas, also, known, Żejtun, maltese, ramla, taż, Żejtun, southeastern, malta, located, limits, seaside, town, marsascala, formerly, limits, Żejtun, bajja, tumasthe, seen, from, munxar, headlandlocationmaltacoordinates35, 85250, 56583, 8. St Thomas Bay Maltese Id daħla ta San Tumas also known as the Bay of Zejtun Maltese Ir Ramla taz Zejtun 1 2 is a bay in southeastern Malta located in the limits of the seaside town of Marsascala formerly in the limits of Zejtun St Thomas BayIl Bajja ta San TumasThe bay as seen from the Munxar HeadlandSt Thomas BayLocationMaltaCoordinates35 51 09 N 14 33 57 E 35 85250 N 14 56583 E 35 85250 14 56583EtymologySaint Thomas the ApostleMax length0 54 kilometres 1 800 ft Max width0 44 kilometres 1 400 ft Surface area0 29 square kilometres 72 acres Shore length12 17 kilometres 7 100 ft 1 Shore length is not a well defined measure St Thomas Bay with Munxar headland in the background Contents 1 About 2 Munxar headland 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksAbout EditThe bay takes its name from an ancient medieval chapel dedicated to St Thomas the Apostle The exact location of the chapel cannot be ascertained however its location is linked to a shrine to St Thomas on the main road to Zejtun 3 4 Historically the bay formed part of the nearby town of Zejtun 5 which lies immediately uphill of the inlet The bay and Munxar point are popular with residents of Zejtun and other inland villages for swimming hunting and bird trapping 6 Some historians contend that St Thomas Bay marks the true landfall of the Paul the Apostle following his shipwreck on Malta 7 8 This theory is based on both geography as well as archaeological findings of ancient Roman anchors in the bay 8 St Thomas Bay includes a number of fortifications including the Grade 1 scheduled Riħama Battery at its southern end 9 A large fortress St Thomas tower was built at the tip of Il Gzira ta Wied il Għajn in 1614 after an Ottoman fleet anchored in the bay and raided Zejtun The town of Marsascala developed on the northern shores of the bay while the headland of Il Munxar forms the southern edge of the bay The bay contains a number of smaller inlets some with sand while the bay also serves as a harbour for a number of small boats 10 In its inner creek there are a number of boathouses 11 Munxar headland Edit In this 1681 map the name La Serta is used to describe the stacks and reefs at the tip of Munxar Bay In this 1748 map the group of stacks are called La Serra the Italian word for a saw a tool which in Maltese is called munxar Four sea stacks can be seen in this 1767 map by John Brekell in his book Euroclydon or the dangers of the sea considered and improved in some reflections upon St Paul s voyage and shipwreck Munxar headland Maltese Ras il Munxar A is a rock bound peninsula on the southern edge of the bay The headland takes its name from a number of stacks long since eroded into submerged reefs which used to extend into the Mediterranean sea from Munxar point The old Italian placename for the stacks jutting out of the headland was La Serta English The Wreath In other maps the group of stacks is called La Serra that is the saw The Maltese word for saw is Munxar The headland is an unspoiled part of the Delimara peninsula facing St Thomas Bay It has a number of terraced fields and commands good views of the bay from its heights The fields are typical Maltese agricultural land consisting of small plots 12 The soil depth is less than two feet on average containing mainly silty sandy soil 12 The plots are terraced on levels with rubble walls 12 As Munxar lacks water supply the site is only viable to be cultivated by winter crops like fodder 12 Part of the promontory forms part of a designated national park 13 and the headland is a scheduled Area of High Landscape Value 14 Munxar headland is close to the recorded megalithic remains at Xrobb l Għaġin and includes a number of fortifications including St Paul s tower and chapel An abandoned gun battery used during the french occupation of malta Munxar headland today St Thomas Bay can be seen in the background In 1995 the land was proposed for development into a tourist village but the plans were successfully resisted by residents and activists of the surrounding villages and were shelved in 1996 6 More recent applications were filed for an agri tourism village and for solar farms These were either deemed incompatible with the area or withdrawn 14 Notes Edit A Munxar headland should not be confused with a village in Gozo with the same name References Edit Commission Calls for embellishment works for St Thomas Bay The Malta Independent 2007 08 22 Retrieved 2019 07 19 Planning Authority Planning Authority Retrieved 2019 07 19 Fine Arts St Thomas Panel Painting Wirt iz Zejtun 16 April 2012 Archived from the original on 2019 07 16 Retrieved 2019 07 16 Abela Joe June 2007 Il Knisja il Qadima ta San Tumas fir Ramla Iz Zejtun Debono Carmelina 2006 05 25 Neglected St Thomas Bay Times of Malta Archived from the original on 2019 07 16 Retrieved 2019 07 16 a b Boissevain Jeremy Selwyn Tom 2004 Contesting the foreshore Amsterdam Amsterdam University Press pp 243 247 ISBN 9053566945 St Paul s Shipwreck St Paul s Bay or St Thomas Bay The Malta Independent 2010 04 25 Archived from the original on 2018 09 26 Retrieved 2019 07 16 a b Could St Paul Have been shipwrecked in St Thomas Bay The Malta Independent 2010 02 27 Archived from the original on 2019 07 16 Retrieved 2019 07 16 Leone Ganado Philip 2017 01 16 300 year old fortification is falling to pieces Times of Malta Archived from the original on 2019 07 16 Retrieved 2019 07 16 Rix Juliet 2019 Malta and Gozo Bradt Travel Guides p 184 ISBN 978 1784770709 Ameen Juan 2011 07 12 St Thomas Bay boathouses Court order sparked need for action plan Times of Malta Archived from the original on 2019 07 16 Retrieved 2019 07 16 a b c d Vella Matthew 2016 01 18 80 000 square metre agri tourism village proposed off Marsaskala Malta Today Archived from the original on 2019 07 16 Retrieved 2019 07 16 Geology and Topography of the Park Xrobb l Għaġin Nature Park Archived from the original on 2019 06 23 Retrieved 2019 07 16 a b Leone Ganado Philip 2018 07 30 Solar greenhouse plans go dark as applicant pulls the plug Times of Malta Archived from the original on 2019 07 16 Retrieved 2019 07 16 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Thomas Bay VisitMalta com Malta Beaches and Bays Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Thomas 27 Bay amp oldid 1148149028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
