Safi: One of Malta's Smallest, Quietest Villages

Safi, known formally as Ħal Safi, is easy to miss on a map of Malta — just 2.3 square kilometres and home to barely more than two thousand people — but that small footprint holds an unusually well-documented history. This is a village that grew slowly and deliberately, from farmers meeting on their way home from the fields to a formally recognised parish, and it has kept much of that unhurried, agricultural character even as the rest of the island has modernised around it. For visitors willing to step off the well-trodden path, Safi offers a genuine glimpse of rural Maltese life.

The History of Safi

The area around Safi has been settled since at least the Punic-Roman period, evidenced by the remains of the Ta' Ġawhar Tower, a round watchtower likely built during the Punic Wars. The village itself, as a distinct community, traces back to around 700 years ago, when farmers and peasants from surrounding villages began meeting and settling here; by 1417 it was already recorded by name. For centuries Safi had no church of its own, falling instead under the medieval parish of Bir Miftuħ, and later under a joint parish shared with Mqabba and Kirkop. Residents grew tired of the long walk to Kirkop's church for baptisms and funerals, and in 1598, after a delegation of twelve men petitioned the Bishop on behalf of the village's roughly 210 residents, Safi was finally granted independent parish status — a date still celebrated locally today.

What to See in Safi

St Paul's Church, dedicated to the Conversion of St Paul, dominates the village square. The current Baroque Doric building was constructed between 1727 and 1744 on the site of an earlier, smaller church, and was formally consecrated in 1784. Nearby stands the historic Safi Tower, a small Knights-era watchtower that once helped guard this stretch of the southern coastline. Walking Safi's old streets, look out for houses of character once connected to the Knights of St John, and take a moment in the newly restored Alexander Ball's Garden. History enthusiasts can also seek out the remains of a Roman wall on Żurrieq Road and the Ta' Ġawhar tower, quiet reminders of just how long this small patch of Malta has been inhabited.

Food and Dining in Safi

Given its small size, Safi has limited formal dining, but its long agricultural heritage means genuinely fresh, local produce is easy to find, particularly if you time a visit around village events. Nearby larger villages such as Żurrieq and Qrendi offer a wider choice of restaurants serving traditional southern Maltese cooking, making Safi an easy addition to a day exploring this quieter corner of the island rather than a dining destination in its own right.

Festivals and Traditions in Safi

Safi's parish feast honours St Paul and was traditionally held on 25 January, until it was moved in 1960 to the last Sunday of August to avoid winter weather. The Ħalsafin, as village residents are known, mark the occasion with religious services, band marches, fireworks and the traditional procession carrying the statue of St Paul through the village streets — a proud, close-knit celebration in one of Malta's smallest communities. The St Paul's Band Club in the village square remains the centre of this social and cultural life.

Getting to Safi

Safi sits in the south of Malta, close to Malta International Airport and bordering Żurrieq, Kirkop and Mqabba, making it one of the easiest villages to reach shortly after landing. Local buses connect Safi to Valletta and neighbouring towns, though services are less frequent than in larger localities given the village's small size. Given its proximity to the airport, a taxi or short drive is often the most practical way to reach Safi directly.

Best Time to Visit Safi

Spring and autumn suit Safi's rural, outdoor character particularly well, with mild weather ideal for walking the village's quiet streets and surrounding countryside. The last Sunday of August brings the village's main festa, worth timing a visit around if you want to see Safi at its liveliest. Outside of festa season, Safi remains genuinely quiet year-round, making almost any time a good time for visitors seeking an authentic, unhurried village experience.

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