Lija

Lija (Maltese: Ħal Lija) is a small village in the Central Region of Malta. It forms part of the Three villages of Malta, along with Attard and Balzan. Lija has a baroque parish church and seven other small chapels. The parish church is dedicated to Our Saviour. Lija became a parish in 1594, after the small community detached itself from the neighbouring town, Birkirkara. It has a population of 3,070 as of March 2014.[1]

Lija

Ħal Lija

Casal Lia
Local council
Lija Parish Church
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Suavi Fructo Rubeo
(I glow red with sweet fruit)
Coordinates: 35°54′5″N 14°26′50″E
Country Malta
RegionCentral Region
DistrictWestern District
BordersAttard, Balzan, Birkirkara, Iklin, Mosta, Naxxar
Government
 • MayorAnthony Dalli (PN)
Area
 • Total1.1 km2 (0.4 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
 • Total3,202
 • Density2,900/km2 (7,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Lijan (m), Lijana (f), Lijani (pl)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code
LJA
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-24
Patron saintTransfiguration of Our Saviour
Day of festa6 August
WebsiteOfficial website
Three Villages of Malta
Attard - Balzan - Lija

Culture
Lija Belveder

Lija is mostly known for its fireworks displays that attract thousands of locals and tourists during the festa period held in the first week of August. These displays are very well renowned and claimed to be the best around the island. The Lija fireworks team also won an international fireworks competition held in Monaco back in 1980. In 2006, the Lija fireworks factory placed second in a Fireworks festival organised at the Grand Harbour in Malta's capital, Valletta.

Lija also hosts the Maltese Citrus festival, held each year.

Lija has several old houses of character and large citrus gardens. The Lija Belvedere Tower and Villa Francia are a main attraction. The official University Residence of the University of Malta is also situated in this village.

Lija Athletic F.C. is the village's football club. This club has been promoted to Malta's Premier (highest) Division for three times in its history. Considering the small size of the village and the resource and financial limitations, this was deemed to be a huge success by local sport enthusiasts. Lija Athletic, with the collaboration of the Local Council inaugurated a new synthetic pitch on 6 July 2007 (Jum Ħal Lija or "Lija Day"). This pitch is situated in the village's primary school grounds. This year, 2009, the club is celebrating its 60th Anniversary since its foundation.

British author Anthony Burgess, whose works include A Clockwork Orange, resided in Lija for three years (1968-1970). At Lija there is also Villa Parisio, where politician Mabel Strickland, daughter of Lord Gerald Strickland, lived.

Lija Local Council
Entering Lija

The current 2017 Lija local council members are:

  • Anthonby Dalli (Mayor, PN)
  • Daniel Mallia (Deputy Mayor PN)
  • Donio Cini (PN)
  • Joseph Zahra (PL)
  • Lorraine Farrugia (PL)

Band clubs
  • St. Pius X Band and Society Club (Is-Soċjetà Mużikali Banda San Piju X)

Zones
  • Ħal Mann (Mann Town)
  • Ta' Bajdun
  • Ta' Seguna (Seguna's Village)
  • Tad-Daħla (Entrance Village)
  • Tad-Daqqaq (Cotton Worker's Village)
  • Tal-Mirakli (Miracles' Village)
  • Wied Lija (Lija Valley)

Main roads
  • Triq Annibale Preca
  • Triq Carmelo Farrugia
  • Triq il-Forn
  • Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
  • Triq il-Mosta (Mosta Road)
  • Triq Robert Mifsud Bonnici
  • Triq Sant' Andrija
  • Triq Sant' Antnin (St Anthony Street)
  • Triq Sir Ugo Mifsud
  • Vjal it-Trasfigurazzjoni (Transfiguration Avenue)
  • Triq Gużeppi Portelli

References
  1. "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
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