Hamrun is a bustling inland town two and half kilometres south west of Valletta on the main route to Mdina. Set against the backdrop of an ancient aqueduct the town has a friendly and welcoming ambience of which the locals are justifiably proud.
By Maltese standards Hamrun is a large town that has a lively atmosphere and a more modern vibe than some of the island's older settlements. A popular shopping area, the town has a large range of high-class shops and restaurants lining its wide streets.
The now distinctly suburban town was once a small village known as "Ta' Braksja", changing its name to Hamrun after adopting the nickname of a local family around 1848. Its expansion began with the building of the railway in the 1880's which saw fragmented villages become interconnected and the population swell. Although the railway only lasted for fifty years Hamrun was established as a major centre.
Some of the loveliest landmarks in Hamrun are its churches, in particular the beautiful St Francis church and convent, Our Lady of Atocia, and the Immaculate Conception parish church. However, the spectacular St. Cajetan parish church is a real must see. Built in the mid-nineteenth century in a Neo-Gothic style the church is named after Saint Gajtuna - or St. Cajetan in Maltese - the patron saint of Hamrun.
Any visitors lucky enough to be in Hamrun for St. Gajtuna's feast will witness one of Malta's most popular celebrations. The statue of St Gajtuna is carried through the streets accompanied by the town's two club bands and their supporters bearing coloured flags.
The streets and the church are lit by colourful lights and confetti falls from the sky like a snowstorm, much to the delight of the young children that run through it. The evening culminates in a boisterous feast that locals and visitors alike find irresistible.
