Bidnija

Il-Bidnija

Ir-Raħal tal-Bidnija
Il-Bidnija Ir-Raħal tal-Bidnija
Village
	Il-Bidnija
	Bidnija Church
	Il-Bidnija
	Coordinates: 35°55′37″N 14°23′54″E / 35.92694°N 14.39833°E
Country	Malta
Island	Malta Island
Suburb of	Mosta
Borders	Mġarr, Mosta, St. Paul's Bay
Area
• Total	6.4 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Population (2nd smallest village)
• Total	308
• Density	48/km2 (120/sq mi)
Demonym	Tal-Bidnija
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes	MST / SPB
Dialing code	356
Patron saint	Sacred Family
Day of festa	3rd Sunday of July

Bidnija is a rural hamlet between Mosta, St. Paul's Bay and Mġarr. It is located in the northern region of Malta and is home to roughly 308 people as of 2008, the second least populated habitable zone on the Maltese islands after Mdina (306 people). It is located between two main valleys (Wied Qannotta and Wied tal-Pwales) then extends into other small valleys surrounding the area. It is largely a rural village surrounded by fields mainly belong to the inhabitants, although over the years other Maltese and foreigners have settled in the area generally for its countryside views.

At present, Bidnija is administered by the local councils of Mosta and St. Paul's Bay. It is home to some horse riding facilities, a clay pigeon shooting club and a Maltese cuisine restaurant specialising in traditional rabbit stew. Bidnija's small church is dedicated to the Holy Family and its feast day is celebrated in July.^[1]

History of Bidnija

Bidnija is situated in northern central Malta. Bidnija took its name from the 'Bidni olive trees' grove that is found in this village and can date back to 5,000 years. The Antique Olive Grove at Bidnija enjoys Protected area status.^[2] These olives are of importance to olive-oil's productivity. Archaeologists and Researchers also believe some Roman remains (e.g. Roman villas; tombs) can be found nearby, as Bidnija makes part of the rural surroundings of Rabat, Malta which served as a City in those ages, and also is not far from the coast of Salina, which was once a Roman harbour.

Along the years, the farmers of the locality built their own farmhouses in Bidnija which nowadays are owned through inheritance by their descendants who still live in the village. It was during this period that the inhabitants which in population were about 25 families, showed their wish to build a church to serve for their spiritual needs. The works on the church's building started in 1920.

In the early 1900s, a number of small rooms were built all around the hill's edges. These served for the British soldiers to stay in watching the Maltese island during the World War II when Malta was a British colony. A number of war shelters are also spread all around Bidnija. These shelters served as a shelter to the farmers and the inhabitants of the village during the war.

On 16 October 2017, writer, journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist, Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered close to her home in Bidnija when a car bomb was detonated inside her vehicle,^[3] attracting widespread local and international condemnation of the attack.^[4] In December 2017, three men were arrested in connection with the car bomb attack.^[5] Police arrested Yorgen Fenech, the owner of the Dubai-based company 17 Black, on his yacht on 20 November 2019 in connection with her murder.^[6]^[7]

Bidnija Church

In the 1920s a church designed by mason Salvu Zahra, was built in the area by the inhabitants themselves to serve for their spiritual needs. The church was built in two years and each family in Bidnija decided to donate something to furnish the church. This church is dedicated to the Holy Family of Nazareth. A titular painting, together with two other works in this church were painted by Gianni Vella.^[8]

The titular statue of the Holy Family was made by Wistin Camilleri and blessed in July 1977 by then-Archpriest of Mosta, Monsignor Bartolomeo Bezzina, and a procession was held for the first time. The statue was commissioned and paid for by Angelo Galea (tat-Tork) as an ex-voto. The feast with the procession in the streets of Bidnija is celebrated by the people of this village on the 3rd Sunday of July. The first feast was celebrated in 1977.^{[citation needed]}

Streets in Bidnija

Triq Il-Bidnija (Main Road)
Triq Is-Sagra Familja
Triq Tal-Milord
Triq Il-Bdiewa
Triq Iż-Żebbuġ
Triq Il-Ħarruba
Triq Il-Girna
Triq Għajn Riħana
Triq Tal-Karri
Triq Ta' l-Għażżi
Triq Ta' Ħal-Dragu
Triq Ta' Ġebel Għawżara
Sqaq Ta' San Pawl Milqi

Valleys Around Bidnija

Wied Celestina
Wied l-Imsellit
Wied L-Arkata
Wied Qannotta
Wied tal-Pwales
Wied tal-Hzejjen

Zones Around Bidnija

Busewdien
Għajn Astas
Ħal Dragu
Ħanxara
Ħotba ta' San Martin
Il-Folju
Il-Palma
Il-Qolla
L-Arġentier
L-Imbordin
Ras il-Wied
San Martin
Simar
Ta' Garrum
Ta' Rkuplu
Tal-Fjuri
Tal-Ħireb
Wardija

References

^ Bidnija, malta.com. Accessed 18 October 2022.
^ "Malta - Antique Olive Grove at Bidnija". Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
^ "Murder in Paradise: A Car Bomb Kills A Crusading Journalist". The Economist. 21 October 2017. p. 52.
^ "Top UK newspapers slam 'mafia state' Malta over Caruana Galizia murder". The Times of Malta. 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
^ Jon Stone (6 December 2017). "Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: Three charged over killing of Maltese journalist who exposed Panama Papers corruption". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
^ "Malta businessman held on yacht in journalist murder probe". BBC. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019. He was also identified by Malta's Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) as being the owner of a Dubai-registered company called 17 Black.
^ Silent vigil for Daphne Caruana Galizia held in Bidnija, independent.com.mt. Accessed 18 October 2022.
^ "The Mosta Archives". Retrieved 18 October 2022.

External links

Bidnija limits of Mosta Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
Bidnija limits of St.Paul's Bay

[malta.com-1] Bidnija, malta.com. Accessed 18 October 2022.

[2] "Malta - Antique Olive Grove at Bidnija". Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2008.

[Economist-3] "Murder in Paradise: A Car Bomb Kills A Crusading Journalist". The Economist. 21 October 2017. p. 52.

[4] "Top UK newspapers slam 'mafia state' Malta over Caruana Galizia murder". The Times of Malta. 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.

[ind12-6-5] Jon Stone (6 December 2017). "Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: Three charged over killing of Maltese journalist who exposed Panama Papers corruption". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.

[6] "Malta businessman held on yacht in journalist murder probe". BBC. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019. He was also identified by Malta's Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) as being the owner of a Dubai-registered company called 17 Black.

[7] Silent vigil for Daphne Caruana Galizia held in Bidnija, independent.com.mt. Accessed 18 October 2022.

[8] "The Mosta Archives". Retrieved 18 October 2022.

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