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Marsaskala or Marsascala, known to locals as M'Skala, is a pittoresque Maltese village, located in the South Eastern harbour. The name Marsaskala refers to a Sicilian connection as apparently the word ‘marsa’ means ‘port’ and ‘sqalli’ means ‘Sicilian’. Marsaskala was once a Roman Port and Roman remains lie scattered at ‘tar-Rumi’, where pre-Roman cart ruts have been found. Though the area is partly surrounded by tall white cliffs, the smooth inlets offered easy access to invaders during the 17th and 18th centuries. Since the area is easily accessible by sea, successive conquering armies came ashore here and set about taking the land and slaves.

The defences of the area were established late and the Battery of the French Knight Vendome dates to about 1715. Some of the residents fortified their homes and farmhouses themselves. Even after the area was finally fortified, the population remained small and Sicilian fishermen were more familiar with the area than the Maltese were.

A possible explanation of the lack of settlements in the area was the fear of pirates, who roamed the sea looking for treasure and slaves. The local population felt safer in the walled cities of Cottonera and Valletta and also in the inland villages. Another reason may well have had something to do with the geography. The well sheltered harbour could not by itself discourage people from settling here.

The harbour extended into the Fawwara district until the 19th century, which provided even better shelter. A spring is known to have existed here, but there is no trace of it today. The rugged coastline around Marsaskala is indeed a delight to see, but it has been the site of several shipwrecks. The most recent one involved the “Angel Gabriel” which was a Greek Tanker that split in half on September 23rd 1969.

Marsaskala remained a tiny fishing port until the advent of the Second World War, following which the people living in Cottonera started to build summer villas in Marsaskala. Later on they decided to become all year round residents, gradually transforming the tiny fishing port of Marsaskala into the resort that it is today.

Established as a parish in 1949, the Marsaskala population is just about doubling every ten years or so. There are modern hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, a duck pond and a cinema.

The mood is so relaxed here and visitors love walking along the promenade stretching all the way around the bay from Żonqor Point around to the Jerma Palace Hotel, with stops on the way for drinks and snacks. These walks usually take place in the evenings as then it is a lot cooler than during the days, the latter usually being spent inside and around the cafes and restaurants.

Source: Marsaskala Local Council