<the country churches>
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bell-cot of santa marija in hal xluq
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Another preserved medieval country church is San Bazilju in Mqabba. The church has a rectangular apse, which was reduced in depth and bears icons above the altar. A striking feature on the west facade is the fine round deep eye with its delicate frieze carving, which can also be found on the inside wall. But this oculi, as well as the bell-cot and the window on the left, seem to be later additions. The drip mould with its pair of rosettes over the doorway might be the only original decorative element on the facade. Today the church is linked with another church built later. |
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san bazilju in mqabba |
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An interesting and important example is also the church Santa Marija in Hal Xluq. Hal Xluq used to have a cluster of at least six churches that were not connected. The only surviving church has unfortunately undergone a number of transformations. Probably since the sixteenth century its original roof has been concealed behind a parapet wall. The west facade consists of a bell-cot and a rectangular window, both later additions, and a square-cut doorway, which was originally arched. |
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main door of santa marija in hal xluq |
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The semi-circle shaped hood-mould above the doorway does not have end curls and is rather uncharacteristic. The north wall is pierced by a low arched doorway which is still original. Another alteration took place inside the church; the apse on the east end was destroyed and an altar from the seventeenth century now rests against a blank wall. The wall piers have a plain moulding which marks the line where the pointed arches spring from. |
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detail of doorway |
