Seven towns. One feast. Many enthusiastic Maltese, all convinced that their village throws the best street party and has the best fireworks display on the island.
Santa Maria is quietly approaching, and if you are planning to visit Malta, it deserves a spot on your radar.
For one week each summer, entire towns turn their attention to what is widely considered the most anticipated feast on the Maltese islands. Santa Maria honours the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and falls on the weekend closest to the 15th August. Homes are dressed for the occasion, and churches are lit inside and out. For first-time visitors, it is genuinely a sight to see, the sort of scene that will make you forget you were only popping out for a quick dinner on holiday.
The real charm of Santa Maria is that it is not one feast, but seven, celebrated simultaneously by Mqabba, Qrendi, Mosta, Attard, Gudja, Ghaxaq, and Victoria, and every one of them believes with total confidence that theirs is the best. The rivalry that takes place during the Maltese summer feast reaches a high during Santa Maria week, with villages going head-to-head over the best fireworks, the oldest statues, and the loudest street party. There is never a dull moment.
Each village has something unique:
- Mqabba is home to the St Mary Fireworks Factory, widely regarded by locals as the gold medallist of Maltese fireworks displays.
- Mosta draws the biggest crowds, thanks to the iconic Rotunda that houses striking ground fireworks.
- Gudja houses a church with three bell towers, a detail the locals will happily point out.
Experience it from a distance
Grand, crowded, firework-lit chaos might not be for everyone. Some prefer a quiet dinner with fireworks as a soundtrack, or simply a good viewing point to let the sky do the talking.
If you’re staying at The Xara Palace, de Mondion Restaurant is a great option. On the 14th and 15th, a special dinner menu comes with an exceptional view. Nothing says a unique experience quite like Michelin-starred dining set against a backdrop of fireworks.
However, if you decide to head into one of the villages celebrating, dress lightly and try the qubbajt (the Maltese nougat sold by street vendors is a feast staple). Whichever town you choose, Santa Maria is Malta at its most unapologetically festive, so bring an appetite, low expectations for a quiet night, and a strong opinion on whose fireworks really are the best.
