Malta - Ta' Qali Crafts Village

We visited The Ta' Qali Crafts Village during our stay in Malta in 2011

A visit to the Ta' Qali Crafts Village is included on many organised excursions.

Built shortly before WWII the area of Ta' Qali was used to build an RAF aerodrome, playing an important part in the defence of Malta. The airfield slowly deteriorated and fell into disrepair.

There are a number of small artisan family run businesses that rent second World War nissen huts (some greatly altered and extended now) where the old military base was.

Right in the middle of the island, not far from Rabat, the small crafts village at Ta' Qali can be reached in around half an hour from just about anywhere!

We visited:

Long Hut 1 - Valletta Glass - A Maltese glass factory with a sales outlet.

Huts 71 / 72 - JFC Jewellers - A Maltese jeweller unit where there was a short demonstration on the production of fine Maltese silver filigree work in progress - with a sales outlet area.

A Maltese pottery where traditional Maltese pottery ware was being made, including the religious plaques for display outside Catholic homes.

Regular buses run from Rabat, Sliema and Valletta to the village. The opening hours vary from shop to shop, but the majority are open between 09.00 and 16.00.

You can also shop for local leather goods, lace and knitwear too.

Plus, if you need a pick-me-up in between all that retail therapy, there is a small cafe catering drinks and snacks.