Marsaxlokk is a very traditional fishing
village in Malta. The harbour is crowded with Luzzus
(traditional Maltese fishing boats) during the day. Sit at a
bar on the harbour side with a beer tea or coffee and the
obligatory pastizzi (click
for more information on Maltese Cuisine)
watching the fishermen repair their nets and boats.
The guide books can never illustrate how
pleasurable and peaceful this village is. Stroll along the
quayside and browse the market stalls, but don't buy your
Maltese lace here, because it's principally machine made. If
you are lucky enough to be in Marsaxlokk on a Sunday morning
or early afternoon, visit the fish market, it's fascinating.
Click any picture on this page to see in in more detail. The picture on the left shows the two Eyes
of Osiris which are on the front of all the Luzzus.
These "eyes" are there to ward off evil spirits whilst the men are fishing. The boats themselves are
based on the ancient Phoenician fishing boats which also had Eyes of Osiris (or Horus) on them.
Although the colours of these traditional boats slightly differ, they are principally blue, yellow,
orange, green and red. If you peek inside the boats you will see the inboard motors and controls which
appear to occupy half the boat! Ask a fisherman to take you round the harbour in a boat for a fair
price and they will most likely oblige.
Below is a slide show of six pictures showing a
Luzzu being hauled out of the water by a motorised
pulley. The men at either side of the boat are
supporting it to stop the boat toppling over when it
is pulled from the water. We viewed this whilst
having a snack at a harbour side cafe.
