Zurrieq, Converted House of Character

Zurrieq is one of the oldest towns situated in the South of Malta. Documentation shows that in 1436 it was already an established parish. The parish church, which is dedicated to St Catherine, saw its beginning in 1632 with additions in later centuries. The church boasts many artistic works by famous artists but the principal attractions are primarily works by Mattia Preti. It is at Zurrieq, where Mattia Preti resided for a time, that one can see two of his monumental masterpieces, The Martyrdom of St Catherine of Alexandria and St Andrew. Other works of artistic merit are the sacred vestments embroidered in gold and a magnificent 18^th century silver four branch sanctuary lamp. In Zurrieq one finds another 10 chapels some dating back as far as the 15^th century.

One can find a few windmills in Zurrieq but the most famous is the 18^th Century windmill known as “Tax-Xarolla” built by Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena in 1724.

Wied iz-Zurrieq and the magnificent Blue Grotto are two sites worth visiting. The traditional Maltese fishing boats which are usually used for fishing are now also used to take tourists to the nearby Blue Grotto. A trip to the Blue Grotto is a magical experience. The rays of sunlight mirrors several shades of blue as well as the brilliant phosphorescent colours of underwater fauna and flora.