Birzebbuga, pronounced "Burr-za-boo-ja", is a thriving sea-side resort on the south-east coast of Malta. The town has long been a favourite with Maltese holiday makers who used the then rocky beaches and concrete platforms to launch themselves into the cool, refreshing sea.
More recently the bay has been filled with sand recovered from the ocean during the Freeport project creating a comfortable sandy beach known as Pretty Bay. Birzebbuga is a convincing union of past and present with its important archaeological sites drawing as many tourists as the vibrant nightlife.
The comfort of the sandy beach and the sheltered waters prove a real attraction for locals and tourists alike, especially families with small children enticed by the safe bathing. The flourishing resort offers a wide range of water sport activities, a lively restaurant culture and an attractive beachside town centre.
Boutiques, cafes, restaurants and gift shops line the street surrounding the bay while a pleasant walkway stretches from one end of the beach to the other. One of the highlights of Birzebbuga is its annual festival, The Feast of St Peter in Chains, held on the first weekend in August.
The town's two bands march through the town and a statue of St Peter is carried through the brightly decorated streets where vendors sell souvenirs, sweets, food and toys. The whole town comes alive with locals, tourists, and Maltese holiday makers sharing the party atmosphere which culminates in a spectacular firework display.
Birzebbuga charms do not end there though, for the area has some of the oldest archaeological sites on the island. The Ghar Dalam caves have revealed some exciting discoveries where the prehistoric remains of deer and elephants suggest that they, and other animals, used to inhabit the island. The most famous archaeological find, however, was in 1937 when two teeth belonging to Neanderthal man were unearthed on the site.
Also of interest is Borg in Nadur, a Megalithic building erected in the Stone Age and used later in the Bronze Age.
