Hamrun is an inland city located south-west of Valletta and Floriana and borders on Blata-l-Bajda, Pjeta, Hal-Qormi, Santa Venera, Marsa, and Msida. The bus route from Valletta to Birkirkara runs through the middle of Hamrun and travels along Hamrun's main thoroughfare, "Triq il-Kbira San Guzepp" (St. Joseph's High Street.)

Historical Facts...

Hamrun started as a village called "Ta' Braksja" around 1500. It's present name was the nickname of a local family and was adopted around 1848. When the church established a new parish in the village in 1881, it also adopted the name Hamrun. The population of Hamrun grew rapidly from around 4,906 people to 22,086 between 1881 and 1931.

Hamrun played a very important role in Malta's experiment with a railway system. Although the railway system was initially a private enterprise, it soon evolved into a national transportation system and was considered one of the most advanced railway system of its time. The train, referred to as "Il-vapur ta' l-art" (literally translating into the ship that travels on land) was inaugurated on February 28, 1883 and at that time, a 25-minute ride cost two cents. The train traveled between Valletta and Mdina along Hamrun's main street. A major station was located in the heart of Hamrun. When the railway system was abandoned, the Hamrun station became the site of Malta's milk processing plant. Malta's flirtation with locomotives came to an end on March 31, 1931 when the railway lost out to transportation using buses, trams and horse-drawn cabs, or "Karozzini" Karozzini survive to this day as a tourist attraction in Valletta, Mdina and Bugibba.

The People of Hamrun

Hamrun's population now hovers around 11,653. People from Hamrun are called "Hamrunizi" and are sometimes referred to as "Tas-Sikkina" (Cutthroats.) Another nickname that was used for inhabitants of Hamrun was "Ta' Werwer" (Bullies.) These nicknames evolved around the time that the local soccer club, The Hamrun Spartans (team colours are vertical black and red stripes) was established in 1910. The troublemaking image of the local soccer fans gave birth to the nicknames. Maltese people are very fanatical about their local teams, "festas" (parish feasts) and band clubs.

Historical and Important Buildings and Monuments

Hamrun is host to a number of secondary schools including the Lyceum and the Upper Lyceum. Hamrun is also host to Malta's Milk processing plant, located on Triq il-Ferrovija (Railway Street.) on the site of the old railway station which was one of the major stops of the now defunct railway system. Hamrun also hosted a grand theater, the Radio City. This theater provided entertainment for countless thousands of Maltese people until very recently in history. The theater was converted into the national headquarters of the Malta Labour Party in recent years. It is located on Triq Mile End (Mile End Street.)

Like many other Maltese towns and villages, Hamrun has many churches and chapels. These include the Parish church of San Gejtanu, the church of St. Francis, a church dedicated to Our Lady of Visitation, the Church of the Assumption and Tas-Samra (named after the complexion of Our Lady on the church's main painting - "Samra" is the Maltese word for tanned).

Hamrun is also host to the international Headquarters of the M.U.S.E.U.M., an international organization dedicated to the teaching of catechism. The organization was founded by Father Gorg Preca in 1907.

Parts of the Aqueduct built by the Romans to carry water from springs around Rabat and Mdina to Valletta, can still be seen in Santa Venera, now a separate village. Parts of the Aqueduct that still stand to this day in Hamrun include the Aqueduct Tower on Victoria Street and the Aqueduct Pyramid on Triq San Gwann (St. John’s Street) in the south-west area of Hamrun.

The original brewery of Simmonds Farsons Cisk is located in Hamrun on Farson's Street. This brewery was closed down many years ago when a new and more modern brewery was built at Mriehel. The original brewery buildings are still standing.

Well Known Citizens of Hamrun

Hamrun has it's share of famous Maltese people. Perhaps one of the best known citizens of Hamrun is the late Dr. Anton Buttigieg. Dr. Buttigieg was associated with the Labour Party of Malta and served in Malta's parliament for many years before becoming one of the first Presidents of the Maltese Republic. Dr. Anton Buttigieg is also one of the most well known Maltese poets. Here's an end-piece of one of his poems, entitled 'The Chapel of Peace' as translated into English by Victor Fenech.

But in my ears
I hear an anthem,
Is it the angels up above,
or is it
the new generation hailing our new Malta:

Our forefathers loved you, Malta our Motherland,
for centuries on end they bravely strove and fought
to win for you that great honour: liberty
from all oppressive rulers and their evil thought.

Today you're independent, Malta our Motherland
a language of your own, a mind as free,
your name to other nations never so fair,
never again you'll sell your body for a fee.

For we Maltese do stand united in your cause,
and if needs be will spill our blood upon your altar,
so you may prosper further in progress and honesty,
and truly be a land of peace, a Maltese Malta.

Other famous people who are associated with Hamrun include Fra Diegu Bonanno, Marquis Vincenzo Bugeja, Sister Adelaide Cini, Dun Gorg Preca, and Oreste Kirkop. Fra Diegu established a local home for orphans in 1885. A statue commemorating Fra Diegu stands in the Misrah San Pawl (St. Paul's Square) on Hamrun's main road. As mentioned earlier, Dun Gorg Preca founded M.U.S.E.U.M. Sister Adelaide Cini founded a local convent.

Oreste Kirkop was a famous opera singer. Oreste Kirkop also stared in a movie called "The Vagabond King".

San Gejtanu - The Feast of the Patron Saint

The Patron Saint of Hamrun is San Gejtanu. His feast is celebrated on the first Sunday after August 6th. The Parish Church of St. Gejtanu was designed by George Schinas. Construction of the church was finished in 1875. The titular painting was done by Pietro Gagliardi in Rome. The statue of San Gejtanu is the work of eminent Maltese sculptor Charles Darmanin and was completed in 1885.

Tow band clubs, San Gejtanu's, or as it is also known "tat-Tamal" and St. Joseph's, or as it is also known "Tal-Miskina", hold marathon marches "marc tal-brijju" on the day of the feast starting early in the morning and ending late in the afternoon. There is great rivalry between the two band clubs, which makes for one of the most exciting feasts in Malta. The two band clubs are associated with two different colours; red for San Gejtanu's Band Club and blue for St. Joseph's Band Club. Supporters of the band clubs surround their respective marching band decked out in clothes and head bands and carrying flags of the same colour as that of their club. Hand-held fire works, especially noisy ones, are set off along the parade route and supporters shower the bands and their supporters with streamers and confetti from balconies and roofs. At times, the confetti look like a heavy snow storm. Little children run around playing with the mounds of paper that are left behind the marching bands.

In the evening, local band clubs play on a band stand adjacent to the parish church. Locals and visitors walk back and forth along the main street under colourful lights and banners. The streets are lined with statues of saints and angels. The procession leaves the church early in the evening and winds its way around the city. The festa ends with a spectacular run up the stairs of the Parish Church. Volunteers carrying the statue of the Patron Saint take a "girja" (run) up the stairs under the watchful eyes of parishioners, visitors and tourists. This traditional ending of the boisterous local feast dates back to 1898. The run is usually accompanied by an equally spectacular and noisy fire works display and loud cheers and clapping from the crowds.

Getting There by Bus

There are a number of buses that can get you to Hamrun - Routes 41, 42, 71, and 78. Buses that service Hamrun terminate at the Birkirkara Bus Terminus.

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